Zelenskyy urges partners not to ease sanctions against Russia until all of Ukraine is liberated

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia must feel the consequences and be held accountable until it frees all Ukrainian people and all Ukrainian land.

Zelenskyy stressed in his address at a diplomatic conference in The Hague that Ukraine is fighting for "the right to live, the right to live a normal life", and that Europe must realise this also concerns its own security. "Europe has a very, very long history of wars and it cannot afford to treat this lightly," the president said.

The Ukrainian leader also underlined that the EU must uphold all sanctions and other restrictions imposed on Russia.

"All pressure on Russia must remain in place as long as occupation of our land continues. Russia must feel that it is a criminal and face consequences for that as long as our people remain in Russian captivity and until the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia are brought home," he said.

Zelenskyy also said he expects further steps from the Council of Europe.

"We hope that the tribunal for Russian aggression [the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine – ed.] will truly begin its work, not just for us, but for everyone who wants peace in Europe," he added.

A record number of states are ready to sign the convention on reparations for Ukraine.

Hungary is represented at the lowest level at the conference on reparations.