Ukraine announces new sanctions and events for anniversary of invasion

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced "new sanctions" and other measures for February 24, the first anniversary of russia launching a full-scale war in Ukraine.

"On February 24, there will be new sanctions. They will be announced in different countries and different institutions. This will also be part of the signal of unity for the sake of victory," Kuleba said on the air of the national telethon, RFE/RL reports. 

As for the UN and russia in the Security Council, the foreign minister reported that Ukraine started the process to exclude russia from the council with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, which was made public at the end of last year. "This path will not be quick… Because it is about rebooting what is essentially a global institution. But we have a clear plan," Kuleba said. "Everyone will understand that in front of them are crooks who fraudulently usurped this place. This result will be achieved quite quickly."

As for the exclusion itself, the minister said it would take time, as several factors must coincide. "But believe me, for russia, the achievement of our first goal, delegitimization, which I announced, will be a terrible international blow," the minister said.

Minister Kuleba also announced various events that will take place in the UN, Kyiv, and many other world capitals that will send an unambiguous signal to president putin: "if you, putin, are playing the game of exhaustion and think that time is on your side, then you are deeply mistaken."

"Unity with Ukraine only grows daily, and you will definitely lose in this war," Kuleba added.

Kuleba also commented on US President Joe Biden's plans to visit Poland from February 20 to 22.

"Of course, this is also a constituent element of commemorating this tragic anniversary and a constituent element of the signal to putin that I announced. That is why it is vital that President Biden will be in Europe, especially in Poland, a country that plays a critical role in providing the second armed front for Ukraine," Kuleba noted.

However, the foreign minister added, not only Biden's visit to the country neighboring Ukraine will take place but also several other events on a "global scale."