In a speech to the Belgian parliament on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced Russian ships’ access to European ports and the ongoing trade in diamonds. In this regard, he indirectly asked whether Russian rough diamonds were more important than the “fight for freedom and against tyranny”?
The defenders of the besieged city of Mariupol fought for freedom and against tyranny, Zelenskyy said in his video address on Thursday. In contrast, there are those who have become so accustomed to freedom that they don’t even want to realize what the struggle is worth. This is ‘the world of those who believe that Russian diamonds, for example in Antwerp, are more important than the war in Eastern Europe’. ships as another example Ports are more important than attempts by the Russian army to destroy an entire nation.
Import of rough diamonds still allowed
The Flemish port city of Antwerp has been considered the diamond center of the world since the 16th century. In mid-March, the European Union banned diamond exports to Russia with its fourth sanctions package. But the import of Russian rough diamonds, which is important for Antwerp, is still possible.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo recently emphasized that his country will not block further measures on diamonds. Unlike Britain, for example, the EU has not yet banned Russian ships entering local ports. The reason for this is resistance from countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
