President of Ukraine asks to ban Russian citizens from entering other European countries

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday called on all countries in the international community to ban Russian citizens from entering their respective territories in a renewed bid to prevent the annexation of Ukraine. Moscow Ukrainian territories.

The Ukrainian president pointed out in an interview with the American newspaper The Washington Post that “the most important sanctions that can be taken are to close the borders” for the Russians. “They must live in their own world until they change their mentality,” he argued.

His words came after several Russian leaders defended the idea of ​​holding an annexation referendum in Ukrainian regions such as Kherson and Zaporozhye before mid-September in order to “legitimize the requirements Russia over some areas.

Thus, Zelensky pointed out that “the Russians need to be forced to turn to Russia” so that they “understand this.” “They say that this war has nothing to do with them and that the population is not responsible, but the population has chosen this government and is not fighting either against it or against the war,” he lamented.

“You don’t want this isolation? You are telling the whole world that they must live by your rules. Then go and live there, by these rules. This is the only way to influence (Vladimir) Putin,” he said.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, insisted that visiting Europe “is a privilege, not a right” and stressed the importance of isolating Russia. “Together with our allies, we will do our best,” he said.

Russia criticizes Zelensky’s request

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Zelensky’s call to close all western borders to Russian citizens “irrational” and pointed out that “this statement speaks for itself.”

“Most likely, in this case, the irrationality of thought goes off scale,” he said at a press conference, Interfax reports.

In this sense, he pointed out that “this kind of comment usually comes from countries that have already been recognized as unfriendly.” “From this point of view, many lose consciousness and return to the statements of 80 years ago,” he added.

“I think that over time, common sense will prevail, and those who make such comments will eventually come to their senses,” he insisted.

In a similar vein, also from Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced that Zelenskiy’s request is aimed at cutting ties between countries on the European continent.

Similarly, he accused the American political class of dictating the directives adopted by the head of the Ukrainian state, and even assured that Washington was behind Zelensky’s recent words.

77 Ukrainian athletes died in the war

At least 77 Ukrainian high-level athletes in various disciplines have died as a result of the Russian invasion, according to a local sports NGO tally that includes registered casualties up to July 11.

The local news agency Ukrinform refers to a report prepared by the NGO Angels of Sports, which contains information about the deaths of these athletes under various circumstances since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.

The Ukrainian agency also indicates that the NGO’s website will soon update this information, which will include seven more Ukrainian athletes who have died in recent weeks.

(According to Europa Press and AFP)