BRUSSELS, March 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday there is a “real” threat that Moscow will use chemical weapons in Ukraine, accusing Russia of having already used phosphorus bombs
against civilians in the country.
“The threat of full-scale use by Russia of chemical weapons on the territory of Ukraine is real,” Zelensky told a G7 summit in Brussels via videolink, adding that Kyiv had information that Russian troops “used phosphorus bombs against peaceful people in Ukraine”.
Kyiv first accused Russia of using phosphorus shells against civilians two weeks into its invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader called for a “total embargo” on doing business with Russia, and for Russia to be prevented from using the GPS navigation system “in times of war”.
Zelensky said Russian banks should be “completely cut off from the global financial system” and frozen Russian assets “should be used towards reparations to rebuild Ukraine”.
Zelensky also warned that the war in Ukraine could lead to a “global food crisis”.
“The longer there is no peace on Ukrainian territory, the less Ukrainian food the global market will receive,” he said.
He said the war could lead to shortages of “basic products” in “many countries of Asia, Africa and even Europe”.
Ukraine is among the biggest exporters of farm-grown food, including wheat and maize.
Meanwhile, dozens of people fled a surge in fighting on Thursday in a flashpoint area where Ukraine said it had pushed back Russian forces around Kyiv.
Heavy exchanges of shelling could be heard from the commuter town of Irpin on the northwestern outskirts Kyiv, and plumes of black smoke rose into the air, an AFP team at the scene said.
Residents said homes had been set on fire during intensified violence on Thursday, forcing out people who had managed to remain in war-torn Irpin until now.
Shells trailing smoke also set fire to a warehouse near residential buildings just west of the capital as civilians took cover behind a supermarket.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Wednesday that “almost all of Irpin is already under the control of Ukrainian soldiers” after battles with Russian troops.
Emergency vehicles brought people out of Irpin to a reception centre, where police checked their bags and papers before loading them onto yellow evacuation buses.
Children were among those who left the town, while people brought whatever they could carry with them, including family pets.
Irpin has witnessed some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and many of its inhabitants had already fled across a bridge that Ukrainian forces blew up to stop the Russian advance.
Russian troops quickly pushed to the outskirts of Kyiv after the invasion but their attempt to encircle and enter the city have failed.
Ukraine says it is mounting a counter-offensive in areas around Kyiv.
According to Klitschko, in addition to most of Irpin, Ukrainian forces have also taken control of the small city of Makariv some 50 kilometres to the west.
The former boxer said Wednesday, “We would rather die than kneel in front of the Russians or surrender to the invaders.” — NNN-AGENCIES
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his shock invasion of Ukraine one month ago. — NNN-AGENCIES
