Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the export of Ukrainian goods and services to Europe, which will help soften the blow to the continent's economy caused by Russian aggression.
"Russia launched a large-scale attack on Europe from Ukraine because Russia understands the importance of Ukraine for the European project. Russia will inevitably lose because Europe cannot be split, cannot be divided into parts as it used to be," he said, speaking Friday by video link to the Slovenian parliament.
"Moscow says they are not the enemy of Europe. But Russia hit the Europeans with the gas crisis. They are trying to keep European gas storage facilities unfilled before winter. Russia has pushed European gas prices to an all-time high, deliberately limiting supplies. This has led to catastrophic inflation," he said.
According to Zelensky, "Russia is also preparing another blow - migration. When the Russian navy blocked our ports, it was a conscious decision against everyone in the world who depends on food imports. And you see the consequences, but this is just the beginning."
"Without our food, the food market cannot be stabilized. If there is a famine in Africa and Asia, you will see new migrants on EU territory. Millions of new migrants," the president noted.
Zelensky said importing Ukrainian electricity would help alleviate the energy crisis in Europe. "We have a surplus of electricity, even now that Russian looters are removing solar power plants from areas of Ukraine and have significantly limited our coal generation with their actions," he said.
"We can increase exports by a factor of 10 or more and this will allow us to replace with Ukrainian electricity a significant part of Russian gas imports. All of Ukraine's European neighbors can get new energy stability and lower energy prices in Europe thanks to Ukrainian electricity," Zelensky said.
He reminded about gas storages of Ukraine - the most convenient for our region, which can strengthen the European gas market and make the EU more prepared to pass the winter seasons.
"Together with our partners in the EU, we are creating new food export routes", said Zelensky. Colossal opportunities arise from the integration of our country into the EU digital market, the president added.
"To pass to you, they have to pass us. That's why everyone in Europe is interested in Ukraine winning," Zelensky concluded.
