Zelensky's warning from Istanbul: 'If no results are achieved, impose sanctions'

NATO's eastern and northern flank countries met at a critical summit in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. In addition to the "Bucharest Nine"—Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania—the northern countries of Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland were also represented at the meeting. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were also present at the summit.

The summit was organized as a preparation for the major NATO Summit to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24-25, with the primary agenda being support for Ukraine and deterrence policies on the alliance's eastern border.

“THE EASTERN FLANK IS NOW STRONGER THAN EVER”

Speaking at the opening of the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte drew attention to the efforts of countries that have been strengthening NATO's eastern flank since 2015 and expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion of the five northern countries in the process. Rutte said, "We are increasing our ground forces and expanding this presence together with nine allied countries. With Finland also integrated into this structure, our eastern flank is now longer and stronger."

Emphasizing the importance of defense initiatives such as the Baltic Watch and the Southern Shield, Rutte stated, "At a time when Russia is rapidly arming itself, this presence has become more critical than ever for the allies in the region."

“OUR WAR CAPABILITY MUST BE INCREASED”

Rutte stated that the two priorities on NATO's agenda are increasing defense spending and developing production capacity. Stating that this week's NATO Defense Ministers meeting and the Hague Summit to be held in three weeks are of vital importance in this regard, Rutte said, "Our allies now need to quickly implement steps that strengthen their defense capabilities." Rutte also underlined that lasting security in Europe cannot be achieved without stability in Ukraine.

“IF NO RESULTS COME FROM THE ISTANBUL TALKS, SANCTIONS MUST BE IMPOSED”

Addressing the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky drew attention to the recently conducted "Spider Web" operation and argued that Russia has become more open to diplomacy as it suffers losses in this war. Stating that "Ukraine is fighting on the front lines not only for its own future but for all of Europe," Zelensky called for increased unity and support.

Zelensky claimed that Russia is planning new attacks via Belarus in the summer months, saying, "If they are in such a state of preparation, we must strengthen our defense to the same extent. The way to stop this war from spreading is through supporting Ukraine."

“WE ARE IN ISTANBUL FOR PEACE, BUT RESULTS ARE ESSENTIAL”

Reminding that the Ukrainian delegation is currently conducting peace talks in Istanbul, Zelensky said, "The starting point of this process should be a ceasefire and humanitarian steps. Fundamental issues such as prisoner exchanges and the return of abducted children can be resolved at the leadership level." However, Zelensky stated that if concrete progress cannot be achieved from the contacts in Istanbul, heavier sanctions must be implemented against Russia.

CALL FOR A NEW SANCTIONS PACKAGE

The Ukrainian leader also drew attention to the 18th sanctions package prepared by the European Union and the expected economic sanctions from the US. Emphasizing that the harsh sanctions promised by former US President Donald Trump, in particular, should be put into effect quickly, Zelensky said, "If no results come from Istanbul, the implementation of these measures can no longer be postponed."