Zelensky seeks more sanctions as fighting grinds on in Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine — 

Fighting is grinding connected successful Ukraine aft nan state marked nan anniversary of Russia’s invasion, pinch Ukrainian authorities connected Saturday reporting dozens of caller Russian strikes and attacks connected cities successful nan eastbound and south.

After a somber and defiant time of commemorations connected Friday and a marathon news conference, Ukraine’s seemingly indefatigable president followed up pinch caller video posts a time later successful which he declared that “Russia must suffer successful Ukraine” and based on that its forces tin beryllium defeated this year.

In a abstracted tweet, President Volodymyr Zelensky besides pushed for much sanctions unit connected Russia aft nan U.K., U.S. and nan European Union each announced caller measures aimed astatine further choking disconnected backing and support for Moscow.

“The unit connected Russian aggressor must increase,” Zelensky tweeted successful English.

He said Ukraine wants to spot “decisive steps” against Russian authorities atomic corp Rosatom and nan Russian atomic manufacture arsenic good arsenic “more unit connected subject and banking.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week that Rosatom and his Defense Ministry request to activity connected ensuring that Russia is ready to resume atomic weapons tests if needs be. He alleged that nan U.S. is moving connected atomic weapons and that immoderate successful nan U.S. are pondering plans to transportation retired atomic tests banned nether nan world trial prohibition that took effect aft nan extremity of nan Cold War.

“If nan U.S. conducts tests, we will besides do it,” Putin said.

Russia has already go nan astir sanctioned federation successful nan world complete nan past year, targeted pinch sanctions by much than 30 countries representing much than half of nan world’s economy. But nan compression connected its economy, waste and acquisition and firms has yet to present a knockout blow.

Russia’s ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, called nan latest U.S. sanctions “thoughtless.”

“We person learned to unrecorded nether economical and governmental pressure,” Antonov said. “The acquisition of erstwhile sanctions has shown that they harm nan world marketplace to a greater extent, worsen nan business of mean citizens successful states that initiate aliases support reckless sanctions.”

The Feb. 24 anniversary of past year’s penetration brought nary respite successful Russian attacks.

Still, successful 1 of his video posts connected Saturday, Zelensky asked: “Is it imaginable for america to win?”

“Yes,” he said. “We are tin of this successful unity, resolutely and unyieldingly, to put an extremity to Russian aggression this year.”

Ukraine’s subject connected Saturday reported 27 Russian airstrikes and 75 attacks from aggregate rocket launchers successful nan astir caller 24-hour spell. It said Russian violative efforts proceed to beryllium concentrated successful Ukraine’s business east and northeast. Five wounded civilians were reported successful Ukraine’s eastbound Donetsk province, wherever territory is astir divided betwixt Russian and Ukrainian control.

Battles raged “around” and “nearby” Bakhmut, a metropolis successful nan Donetsk region that has go nan attraction of nan fighting successful caller months, according to Ukraine’s Land Forces. The subject said nan Russian troops continued attempts to break done Ukrainian defenses, encircle and prehend nan city.

In nan confederate Kherson region, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin besides reported 83 Russian shelling attacks, pinch nan location capital, besides called Kherson, deed 9 times, and residential buildings, a preschool and a aesculapian institution struck. The caput of Ukraine’s statesmanlike agency reported 3 civilians wounded successful nan region.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday that he intends to talk bid efforts related to nan Ukraine warfare pinch China erstwhile he travels location successful April. China has called for a cease-fire and bid talks. Zelensky connected Friday gave qualified support for Beijing’s evident liking successful playing a role.

Macron said successful Paris that “China must now thief america to put unit connected Russia.”

“Obviously truthful that Russia ne'er uses neither chemic nor atomic weapons,” he said. “But besides truthful that [Russia] stops this aggression arsenic a information for a negotiation.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Saturday that he welcomed parts of nan bid scheme for Ukraine projected by China, but disagreed pinch different aspects.

“There are things that are remarkably right, specified arsenic nan renewed condemnation of nan usage of atomic weapons,” Scholz told reporters during an charismatic sojourn to India. “What’s missing successful my position is simply a discernible statement that says: ‘Russian troops must besides withdraw.’”