Sanctions and visa restrictions should make Russians feel the price of aggression against Ukraine – President Zelensky

A consistent policy of sanctions against Russia and visa restrictions for the citizens of this state should make the aggressor feel the price of war, and contribute to the strengthening of Ukraine’s position and therefore to the achievement of peace. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during a conversation with the participants of the Ambrosetti Forum.

The Head of State noted that partner countries have recently loosened their sanctions policy towards Russia.

“Earlier the states helped as much as possible, but today this help has faced the “hummingbird effect”. We are standing still, the sanctions advance more slowly, the next packages are weaker. Russian tourists go on a vacation in Italy, France, Spain, and then support the Russian invasion,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President emphasized that Russian society must feel the cost of war, and then it will influence its political leadership.

“Ukraine’s strength is the way to a quick peace, as it will cause weakness in Russia. Strength on the battlefield and support for our security, our army, sanctions’ support, support for our business, and the exit of Western business from the territory of the Russian Federation. Do not support their budget today, do not support their economy, but exit (from the Russian market – ed.),” said the Head of State.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the Russian Federation ignores international law, and the principles of international institutions and occupies the territories of other countries, that is why Russians should feel the real consequences of such a policy.

“They cannot be treated the same way as other tourists, as other people who are citizens of democratic states that live in peace, according to the law and do not seize other territories, do not support the war with money,” the President emphasized.

Read also: It is demilitarization of the territory of the Zaporizhia NPP that is the goal of Ukrainian and international efforts