Boxing legend Vitali Klitschko has denounced payments made by Western countries for Russian fuel as “blood money”.
On the six-month anniversary of war in Ukraine, which was also the country’s 31st Independence Day, the Kyiv mayor said Russia was using the cash for war.
Pleading for trade to stop, the former world heavyweight champ stressed that weapons and aid sent to Ukraine would not be “enough” until the Russian invasion was forced to end.
As air-raid sirens blared in Kyiv, Mr Klitschko begged: “Stop your trading relationship with Russia.
“If you send money to Russia, the Russian Federation does not use money for the economy, or use this money for the population, it is used to support the Russian army. If you send them money it is blood money. Please stop the trading relationship with Russia.”
The 51-year-old sporting star said that trade sanctions were “a very important lever to stop Russian aggression”.
Asked about Western support for Ukraine in the form of weapons supplies he replied: “Right now it is not enough. It is never enough.
“But I want to say thank you very much to the British government, to the United States government, for the support. We are fighting for every one of you.”
Mr Klitschko was speaking as Boris Johnson made his final visit to Kyiv as Prime Minister.
No10 today announced a £54million package of military support for Ukraine, including more than 2,000 drones, munitions and surveillance systems.
The PM met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and was awarded the highest Order of Liberty honour.
Mr Johnson said: “We know that if we’re paying in our energy bills for the evils of Vladimir Putin, the people of Ukraine are paying in their blood.
“And that’s why we know we must stay the course.
“Because if Putin were to succeed, then no country on Russia’s perimeter would be safe.” Today marked 31 years since Soviet rule ended. The day was observed by a display in the capital of destroyed Russian armoured vehicles.
In a stirring speech, President Zelensky vowed to recapture occupied areas of eastern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula, which were annexed by Russia in 2014.
Standing in front of Kyiv’s central monument to independence, the leader said: “A new nation appeared in the world on February 24 at four o’clock in the morning.
“It was not born, but reborn. A nation that did not cry, scream or take fright. One that did not flee.
“Did not give up. And did not forget.”
