Historic sanctions on Russia had roots in emotional appeal from Zelensky

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Zelenskyy told the EU that this may be the last time that they see him. That worked

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Then Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dialed into the meeting via teleconference with a bracing appeal that left some of the world-weary politicians with watery eyes. In just five minutes, Zelensky — speaking from the battlefield of Kyiv — pleaded with European leaders for an honest assessment of his country’s ambition to join the European Union and for genuine help in its fight with the Russian invaders. Ukraine needed its neighbors to step up with food, ammunition, fuel, sanctions, all of it.

“It was extremely, extremely emotional,” said a European official briefed on the call. “He was essentially saying, ‘Look, we are here dying for European ideals.’” Before ending the video call, Zelensky told the gathering matter-of-factly that it might be the last time they saw him alive, according to a senior European official who was present.

Just that quickly, Zelensky’s personal appeal overwhelmed the resistance from European leaders to imposing measures that could drive the Russian economy into a state of near collapse. The result has been a rapid-fire series of developments boosting Ukraine’s fight to hold off the Russian military and shattering the limits on European assertiveness in national security affairs......

The increased popular demand for a strong response, including by kicking Russia out of SWIFT, and Biden calling out Europe “really ramped up the pressure” to act, said one person familiar with the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Without SWIFT, Russian institutions will be forced to fall back on a telex network and other less convenient and more costly alternatives.

[localroger]

1. I don't need a ride, I need ammunition.

Whatever happens, they will be quoting that in a hundred years. Mark my words.

[crickets]

2. It was that powerful because he was telling the truth.

Along with his undeniable personal charisma, the specter of Russia pushing through Ukraine and perhaps continuing on into other countries was too much. It's a good thing Zelenskyy is so persuasive, and that they listened.