Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the deputies of the Chamber this Thursday afternoon, at the start of the traditional plenary session. The opportunity for the Ukrainian President to compare the battle of Mariupol to that of Ypres in 1915 and to evoke the “Russian diamonds sometimes sold in Antwerp“.
It has moreover become a habit for the former actor who has become president: during his speeches to parliaments around the world, he does not fail to slip in historical references or to point out one or another national aspect which has an influence on the war in Ukraine.
How is this oratorical strategy organized on the Ukrainian side? RTBF spoke with Igor Zhovkva, special adviser and deputy chief of staff of Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Zelensky adapts his speech to each Parliament he addresses, how effective is this strategy and how did it come about?
Igor Zhovkva : “This idea of adaptation was created by the president himself. You know, he speaks to foreign leaders, presidents and prime ministers every day. But he decided, in addition to talking to foreign leaders, to address parliaments and through them to talk to the peoples of the states that support Ukraine. When we talk to each nation, we have to find something special that will break the ice between us and the foreign nation, even if today, in the case of Ukraine, everyone supports our fight against Russian aggression.
Every time President Zelensky addresses a parliament, he finds common historical moments, he finds specific ties between Ukraine and the country with which he speaks. In fact, he finds his own words persuasive in order to gain additional support from the countries he speaks to. Just today [jeudi 31 mars, NDLR]he addressed 3 different parliaments, the parliaments of Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands and in all these cases he was very convincing.“
What is the impact of sanctions and pressure from the international community on Moscow? Is it sufficient ?
IZ : “Sanctions matter, they weaken the Russian economy and they weaken Russia’s ability to fight Ukraine. We are grateful for the sanctions that have already been implemented by all major states. But we definitely need more. Why ? Because immediate sanctions are needed to cause effects on the economy, on the elite, on businesses, and on the Russian financial system. Anything that will weaken them to fight against Ukraine. Because every dollar, every euro that they earn selling their products, selling their goods to European or international companies is immediately reinvested in the military industry and is used to manufacture weapons to kill Ukrainians.
We are definitely not happy with the current level of sanctions, especially in the European Union. At the moment we are talking about the closure of ports for all Russian ships, the embargo on the import of Russian gas and coal, the freezing of Russian assets in European banks. It is even possible to use these assets to restore the Ukrainian economy.
Moreover, we want sanctions against exposed politicians, at all levels of governance, who have collaborated with Russian aggression. We need a broad and swift suspension of all Russian banks, not just small banks. All this is necessary and this is communicated by my president to all leaders. We hope that the EU, the Member States, including Belgium, will support us in these very important moments.“