Zelensky visits eastern Ukraine, says Russia should be considered a 'terrorist state'

Ukrainian leader was in Kharkiv, the second largest city in the country, which has suffered from intense bombing since the beginning of the war.

By Edward Era Barbacena

For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the east of the country, where Vladimir Putin's troops are intensifying bombings and seeking to dominate the region. On Saturday, the 28th, the Russians took control of the city of Lyman, an advance that increases the pressure against Lyssychansk and Severodonetsk. In the photos shared by the Ukrainian leader on his Telegram account, it is possible to see him wearing a bulletproof vest and analyzing the destruction caused in the city of Kharkiv, the site of the visit and the second largest in the country, which Ukrainian troops regained control last month, but which Russia bombed again.

Since the conflict began, Zelensky has remained in Kiev . . “In this war, the invaders are trying to get an outcome, whatever that may be. But they must have known for a long time that we will defend our land to the end,” he said. In a speech on Saturday, the Ukrainian said that Russia should be considered a “terrorist state” as a demonstration of what is happening in the country he leads. The conflict is now in its fourth month. “I will remind the world that Russia must be officially recognized as a terrorist state, a sponsoring state of terrorism,” he declared. “This is fair and reflects the daily reality that the invaders have created in Ukraine. And they are looking forward to taking it to Europe,” he added.

On Monday, the 30th, Zelensky will attend the meeting of the European Council, where the leaders of the 27 member states will meet to take a decision on a possible embargo on Russian oil. The European bloc is considering excluding the pipeline that delivers oil to Hungary from the new sanctions package, EU sources said. So far, a new round of sanctions against Russia that hits most of the hydrocarbon sector has been halted by Hungary, which relies heavily on these resources and fears consequences for its economy.

The central European country – landlocked and supplied by the Druzhba pipeline – has asked for 800 million euros ($860 million) in EU funds to adapt its refineries and pipeline capacities to receive alternative supplies, for example, from Croatia. Currently, a new proposal is being discussed to exclude Druzhba from the oil embargo to limit sanctions on the supply of oil by ship.