Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the international community to intensify sanctions against Russia to curb the Russian war machine. "Sanctions should now be one of the most important priorities - the world's sanctions against Russia," Zelensky said in a televised address.

According to Qatar News Agency, he emphasized that sanctions effectively limit Russia's opportunities for strategic development and its capabilities, and must limit Russia's ability to continue its military operation against Ukraine. Despite the European Union's failure last Friday to approve the 18th package of sanctions due to Slovakia's opposition, Zelensky called for a renewed effort to adopt them.

Russia has made progress on several fronts in the past month, despite Washington's call for the two countries to sit down at the negotiating table to end the war that has been ongoing since February 2022.