Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 11 political parties linked to Russia would be banned in his country, The Washington Post reported.
In a speech posted online, Zelensky said that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine agreed to suspend the activities of the parties.
“Given the full-scale war waged by the Russian Federation and the ties of some political structures with this state, any activity of a number of political parties during the period of martial law is suspended,” Zelensky said during his speech.
Zelensky also said in his address that the country’s Ministry of Justice was “instructed to immediately take comprehensive measures to ban the activities of these political parties in the prescribed manner,” the Post reported.
“Any activity of politicians aimed at splitting or cooperation will not succeed,” Zelensky added. But this will be a tough answer.
Among the 11 banned parties were Opposition Platform-For Life, Shariy, Nashi, Opposition Bloc, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, State, Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist Party of Ukraine”, “Party of Socialists” and “Vladimir Saldo Bloc”. Axios.
In an interview Sunday with CNN correspondent Farid Zakaria, Zelenskiy warned of the possibility of a third world war if negotiations did not lead to an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, our dignity is not going to save lives, so I believe that we should do any format, any chance to have … the opportunity to talk with Putin. But if these attempts fail, it will mean… a third world war,” Zelensky told Zakaria.