President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that “Ukraine will always remain an independent state and will not be broken, and the only question is what price our people will pay for their freedom, and what price Russia will pay for this senseless war against us.”

In his statement, he stressed: “The unfolding catastrophic events may stop if the world treats the situation in Ukraine as if it were facing the same situation, if the powers did not manipulate Russia, but applied pressure to end the war.”

Zelensky’s criticism of the West has intensified in recent days as the European Union moves slowly towards a possible embargo on Russian oil and thousands of Russian troops attempt to encircle the eastern cities of Severodonetsk and Lychansk.

Three months after invading Ukraine, Russia has abandoned its attack on the capital Kyiv and is trying to consolidate its grip on the eastern industrial region of Donbass.

“How many weeks will the EU try to negotiate on the sixth package?” Zelensky asked, pointing out that “pressure on Russia is literally a matter of saving lives. Every day, delay, weakness, various disputes or proposals to appease the aggressor at the expense of the victim means only death more Ukrainians.

The European Union is discussing a sixth round of punitive measures, including a ban on Russian oil imports that would require a consensus, but Hungary opposes the idea on the grounds that its economy would be hit hard.

The President of Ukraine said that Russia receives one billion euros a day from a bloc of 27 countries for the supply of energy resources.