Zelenskyy Urges Strong Counteraction Against Russia Amid New Sanctions Push

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday called for strong counteraction against Russia, urging the international community to impose sanctions and provide long-range strike capabilities to Kyiv.

In a statement, Zelensky said Russia launched more than 1,500 strike drones, 1,280 guided aerial bombs, and 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine over the past week.

Zelensky highlighted that thousands of foreign components were found in Russian weapons—more than 132,000 items sourced from Europe, the US, China, Japan, and several other nations.

He warned that Russia will pose a threat to Europe and the Indo-Pacific if its aggression is not stopped.

“Russia must feel the consequences of its actions. Adequate counteraction—including the strength of our army, long-range strike capabilities, and strong sanctions- is necessary to force Russia to seek peace,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian President emphasised the need to cut all supply routes and stop countries and companies that aid Russia. He welcomed the 19th EU sanctions package and called on the US to join European efforts.

“All these technologies help Russia create weapons on a large scale for terror against our people. Strong sanctions are an instrument to stop this,” he said.

On September 19, the European Union proposed its 19th package of sanctions against Russia.

EU Vice-President Kaja Kallas outlined measures targeting key sectors that sustain Russia’s war effort, including Russian banks, financial institutions, and companies aiding the military industry.

Kallas said, “Any source of income for the Kremlin to continue its aggression is a target. We propose a full transaction ban on Russian banks and financial institutions, including those operating in third countries.”

Additional Measures Against Russian Military Support

The EU also plans to:

• Ban investments in Russian Special Economic Zones linked to the war
• Impose further measures on Chinese actors supporting Russia’s military industry
• Fully prohibit Russian LNG imports by January 2027
• Lift exemptions on Rosneft and Gazprom Neft
• Sanction Russia’s shadow fleet and its enablers, including 118 new vessels

Kallas stressed that EU sanctions have a visible impact on Russia’s public finances and economic growth and must be reinforced collectively with international partners until peace is achieved.

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