Zelenskyy speaks to Danish and Dutch parliaments

[pieter]

Zelenskyy urges Dutch to stop buying Russian gas, back EU membership

March 31, 2022


Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Dutch MPs. Photo: Bart Maat

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the Netherlands to stop all trade with Russia and to support a boycott of Russian gas, in a video address to the Dutch parliament on Thursday morning.

Zelenskyy pointed out that the Dutch purchase of Russian gas is contributing billions of euros to Putin’s war effort. ‘We need tough sanctions, so that Russia has no chance of waging war further into Europe,’ he said.

He also urged the Netherlands to provide more weapons for Ukraine, in addition to those already sent. ‘You are leaders in supporting us,’ he said. ‘But we need more weapons to drive out the occupier.

As expected, Zelenskyy also referred to events in Dutch history, such as the bombardment of Rotterdam in 1940 and the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine. ‘That deed cannot be forgiven,’ he said. ‘Those who gave the order should be held to account.’

He also commented on the events of April 1, 1572, when the Spanish were driven out of the town of Den Briel, in what was a turning point in the 80 Years War. ‘Tomorrow you will remember driving out tyranny 450 years ago,’ he said. ‘The tolerance and diversity in Europe which followed is now under attack.’



The president also turned his attention to prime minister Mark Rutte, who had been granted permission by MPs to attend the session, and asked him to support Ukraine’s wish to join the European Union.

‘Our membership depends on you, Mark,’ he said. Rutte has so far resisted efforts to speed up Ukraine’s admittance to the EU, although he has stressed that the country ‘is part of the European family’.

The Dutch parliament is the 14th addressed by Zelenskyy in his virtual tour of global capitals.

[pieter]

Zelenskyy speaks to Danish parliament

[karl]

Pieter

An excellent presentation for many reasons that hold some very loaded and soul searching questions. With Mr. Zelenskyy as heading his nation of Ukraine, lays his responsibility to have answers to all questions as to the future of the state he represents. With this, the people of Ukraine are what they are, people and this is just as important as the manner of: Freedom.

For as above, is the question he {Zelenskyy} is asking is then to place at risk, the loss at present, of earth gas that powers both nations of The Netherlands and that of Denmark both. With this, of course the political reasons is to place more economic
pressure on Russia to change the course of the present war against Ukraine. But, is the price of the economies of both states worth the risk? It takes time for a change over for replacement energy source and at present, this means time and time is money.

The second risk that has not been placed on the table, is at present, no way out has been presented to Mr. Putin to gracefully end his war. For at present as should be noted, he {Putin} has raised the bristles of the nation states on his Western Flank as the EU in the manner of consolidation of a common enemy with his actions. It then has the ring of a carrot and stick time which at this time has not been offered.

Mean while, heavy property damage is being conducted with continuation of this war in as well as abuse to the Ukrainian effected people.

Karl