World faces a turning point, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy warns leaders in Davos According to Reuters

By Natalia Zinets and Sabine Siebold

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told global business leaders during a meeting in Davos on Monday that the world faces a turning point and must introduce sanctions. against Russia as a warning to other countries considering the use of force.

“History is at a turning point… This is really the deciding moment whether violence will rule the world,” Zelenskiy, wearing his signature olive green t-shirt, said in a statement. address via video link.

His speech kicked off in earnest the four-day World Economic Forum, which brings together some 2,000 business and economic leaders as well as experts, with Ukraine at the top of the agenda.

“Every one of you must understand: We are protecting you, personally… We are fighting, really, for each of you and everyone must understand that.” , the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, another member of the group. The Ukrainian delegation arrived in Davos.

In stark contrast to the past, Russia’s state institutions and private companies, which organize some of the flashiest parties with black caviar, vintage champagne and foie gras, have not been invited to the area. Alpine vacation this year.

The former “Russian State House”, Moscow’s base at Davos over the years, has been transformed by Ukrainian artists into a “Russian War Crimes House”, displaying paintings of mourning and devastation. caused by the war in Ukraine.

Moscow has denied targeting civilians or being involved in war crimes while it carries out what it calls “special military operations” in Ukraine and says Western sanctions and arms delivery to Kyiv was a “proxy war” waged by the West.

“MAXIMUM PENALTY”

Zelenskiy called on countries to put more pressure on Moscow and accused them of not exhausting sanctions.

“Sanctions should be as much as possible so that Russia – and any other potential aggressor who wants to wage a brutal war against its neighbour – clearly know the immediate consequences of its actions,” he said. surname”.

He demanded an oil embargo, a blockade of all Russian banks, and an end to all commercial activity. Foreign businesses should completely withdraw from Russia, and the Russian information technology industry should separate from the West.

Sanctions must set a precedent, deterring any other aggressor in the coming decades, Zelenskiy said, adding that Russia has caused its own decline with actions. mine.

The renaming of the House of Russia “is an example of their transformation, what Russia has done to itself, becoming a nation of war criminals and what it has brought to the world: It inspires inspire other potential invaders to act,” he said.

The former Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion, Wladimir Klitschko, demanded that sanctions also target Russian athletes.

“Here in Switzerland is the headquarters of the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, and I believe that the Russian Olympic team should be banned and not allowed to participate,” he said.

“Nothing against the nation or against the athletes, but they represent the Russian regime, the belligerent regime that started this senseless war.”