Natalia Zinets, Sabine Siebold

DAVOS. Switzerland (Reuters). Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian President, told Davos business leaders on Monday that Russia is at a crucial turning point. He called on global business leaders to impose sanctions against Russia to send a message to any other country considering brute force.

The turning point in history is here… “History is at a turning point…

The four-day World Economic Forum, which gathers around 2,000 economic and business leaders along with experts, was inaugurated by his speech. Ukraine was the top of the list.

“Everyone must understand: We are protecting you personally…We fight, in fact, for each one of you” said Vitali Klitschko (a member of the large Ukrainian delegation who travelled to Davos).

This year, the Alpine resort has been boycotted by Russian private and state companies, which used to host some of the most glamorous parties in the country with vintage champagne, black caviar and foie gras.

Ukrainian artists have transformed the former Russia House, Moscow’s Davos headquarters in years past, into a Russian War Crimes House, showing pictures of destruction and misery caused by war in Ukraine.

Moscow denied that it targeted civilians, or was involved in war crimes. However it is carrying out what it calls “special military operation” in Ukraine. The West has placed sanctions on Kyiv and provided arms to the country.

“MAXIMUM SANCTIONS”

Zelenskiy encouraged countries to apply more pressure on Moscow. He also charged them with not having exhausted all the sanctions.

He said that Russia, and all other potential aggressors, should impose maximum sanctions to ensure Russia (and any other possible aggressors) are fully aware of the immediate consequences.

He called for an oil embargo as well as the closure of all Russian banks. Russian businesses must be completely expelled from Russia and all trade should cease with the West.

Zelenskiy stated that the sanctions should be a model for other countries, and deter any aggressors over time. He also said Russia was responsible for its fall through its actions.

According to him, the renaming and renaming Russia House is “an example of Russia’s transformation” into a state that war criminals are.

Wladimir Klitschko was the former Ukrainian world heavyweight boxing champion. He demanded that Russian athletes be included in any sanctions.

“It is here in Switzerland that IOC (International Olympic Committee) has its headquarters. I think the Russian Olympic Team must be banned.” he stated.

“Nothing against nationality, nothing against athletes. But they represent Russia’s aggressive regime which has initiated this senseless war.”