EU Sanctions against Russia Came a Little Bit Too Late: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says European sanctions against Russia over its invasion came “a little bit too late” and pushed for the EU to swiftly bring Europe’s second-largest country into the bloc.

“You implemented sanctions — we are thankful,” Zelenskyy said, according to a translation of a video posted on his official Telegram channel. “These are powerful steps, but it was a little bit too late. Because if it happened preventatively, Russia would not have started a war, or at least — nobody knows for sure — there was a chance,” CNBC reports.

Zelenskky said Ukraine needed to be in the EU “soon” and called on lawmakers to make sure Kyiv’s accession to the bloc did not happen too late.

“And now we are preparing the membership of Ukraine in the European Union. Finally. And here I am asking you to not be too late. Please.”