- Zelenskyy told
Davos thatRussia should face maximum sanctions, banning all trade. - He told many of the world's most powerful people he believes today's sanctions do not go far enough.
Ukrainian President
Speaking virtually to the
Zelenskyy said that while he was grateful for sanctions put in place against Russia over its invasion, but thought more was needed.
He specifically asked for a total oil embargo and calling for all of Russia's banks to be cut from the global banking system.
Some countries have pledged to ban or phrase out Russian oil, and some Russian banks have been frozen out, but many exceptions remain.
Zelenskyy praised his country's resistance to Russia, which far outlasted most predictions and has prevented Russia from taking much Ukrainian territory.
But, he argued, the huge sacrifices made by Ukraine and its people would have been unnecessary if Russia had been sanctioned harder and sooner. This, he argued could have prevented an invasion altogether.
He asked if Ukraine would have had to fight "if sanctions were applied against Russia preventatively."
He responded: "I am sure the answer is no."
"If that unity, that pressure happened, would Russia start this full-scale war? I am sure that the the answer to this question is also no," he said.