Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

World must always support 'pre-emptive measures to forestall violence, war': Ukraine president Zelenskyy

SINGAPORE — The world must always support “preemptive measures to forestall violence”, or risk allowing political leaders to increase their power unchecked, said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking virtually at the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 11, 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking virtually at the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 11, 2022.
Follow TODAY on WhatsApp
  • The world must support pre-emptive measures to forestall war before violence even erupts, said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy
  • In a live-streamed address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr Zelenskyy said countries that need help cannot be left to the mercy of bigger powers
  • Countries that violate international law or go against a rules-based world order must be held accountable, he added
  • Mr Zelenskyy also stressed that any diplomatic effort or sanctions need to be done before, not after violence has broken out

SINGAPORE — The world must always support “preemptive measures to forestall violence”, or risk allowing political leaders to increase their power unchecked, said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“We need a diplomatic resolution to support countries that are in need of help. We must not leave them behind at the mercy of another country, which is more powerful in financial terms, in territorial terms and in terms of equipment," said Mr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday (June 11).

The Ukrainian leader said this in response to a question from a delegate at the defence summit, who had asked his thoughts on Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's keynote speech the day before on East Asia becoming the next Ukraine, in reference to tensions between China and Taiwan.

During his 12-minute speech via a live stream from a secret location in Kyiv, Ukraine, Mr Zelenskyy also called upon the world’s support to stop the war Russia has waged against his country.

“Russia strives to render it impossible for a neighbouring country which it regards solely as its colony to be able to exist freely and independently,” he said through a translator, painting an elaborate picture of destruction, killing and looting that has happened since the invasion started in February.

Mr Zalenskyy said that in invading Ukraine, Russian leadership is discarding “the system of international law” and is harking back to a point in time when it was impossible to see harmonious development of billions of people.

The Ukrainian president also made reference to an analogy used by Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in demonstrating the importance of a rules-based world order.

“And this is why I want to remind you of the words of a person who you know very well — if there had been no international law and the big fish ate a small fish and the small fish ate shrimps, we would not have existed,” said Mr Zalenskyy.

“These are wise words of Lee Kuan Yew, the leader who was perspicacious enough to see the clear reasons of many things and processes and who knew exactly what is of value.”

He stressed that the world must break the ability of Russia and any other country trying to block, seize and destroy the freedom of navigation.

“If it's about sanctions, then we need sanctions. If it's about symmetrical measures to limit the servicing of Russian ships imports, then we need these measures,” he said, adding that the war has worsened food shortages across various parts of the world.

He urged for a united effort to hold Russia or any other country that commits transgressions accountable, and called for reform in the United Nations "to make all countries abide by international law".

“If this reform has already taken place, we would have been able to respond to any aggression, not only Russia's aggression on the global level,” he said.

He also took the opportunity to thank those who have helped his country, adding that support towards Ukraine is equivalent to supporting a safe future for all.

"It is on the battlefield in Ukraine that the future rules of this world (are) being decided along with the boundaries of the possible."

Following his speech, Mr Zalenskyy took questions from attendees, and was asked about global food security in the wake of supply chain disruptions caused by the war.

Mr Zalenskyy replied that Russia’s enforcement of maritime blockades is preventing 25 billion tonnes of corn, sunflower oil and wheat from reaching various parts of the world, including Asia, Europe and Africa.

Pointing to discussions with various parties including the United Nations, Turkey and other European countries, he said that Ukraine would support a safe maritime corridor with trusted partners to allow such exports.

He was also asked about his opinions on Mr Kishida’s keynote speech, which compared China’s aggression towards Taiwan to the situation between Russia and Ukraine.

In his reply, Mr Zalenskyy stressed that the world must support any action “related to preemptive measures to forestall violence, forestall war”, and not act only after hostilities have broken out, like in the case of Ukraine.

Mr Zalenskyy was also asked about his thoughts on French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent comments about the importance of Ukraine not pushing Russia back too far over the fear of further provoking Moscow.

“Ukraine is in its own soil. Coming too far for Ukraine would mean to go into Russian territory — and this is not what we are willing to do,” he said, adding that his country does not have any plan to break international law.

“But remember, that the war is being waged on our territory. This is war on our soil, people in Ukraine are dying. That is why we are exerting pressure on Russia, on our soil,” he said.

He said that Russian leadership is at a point beyond being “comforted” or “consoled” and that any preventive sanctions that were needed should have been done before the war started.

“If you are trying to find an understanding with the Russian Federation... it is too late to discuss it.”

Related topics

Ukraine Shangri-La Dialogue Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.