Zelenskyy explains how new sanctions could hit Putin's "final bet"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that increased sanctions pressure could affect Russia's and North Korea's ability to produce missiles.

Source: European Pravda, citing Zelenskyy during a meeting with ambassadors in Kyiv

Quote: "You have already done a lot, and I am grateful to you. For example, significant progress has been made in disrupting Russia's shadow fleet, and the same is true of efforts to block those working for this war. Now we must focus on what Putin considers his final bet – ballistic missiles and all types of Russian drones, and all the related production."

Details: Zelenskyy stressed that existing loopholes in sanctions still enable Russia's military-industrial complex to bypass restrictions.

"Russian companies producing ballistic weapons are still not subject to comprehensive, strict global sanctions. Of the 17 key companies, some are not sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan or Switzerland. Just imagine that. When it comes to the production of ballistic missiles, most of them can exploit loopholes in the sanctions regimes of certain partners," he explained, referring to nations supporting Kyiv.

Zelenskyy called for better synchronisation of sanctions to prevent circumvention.

"If sanctions alone are not enough, we must apply other legal, formal, informal and often even public methods. Every bank and financial agent involved in Russian schemes, all transit channels, must feel they have problems. We need to create problems for them," Zelenskyy said.

Background: Ireland recently confirmed that the EU is reviewing its approach to sanctions against Russia.

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