Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced support for imposing tariffs on nations that continue to conduct business with Russia, describing it as the “right idea” in response to Moscow’s ongoing military aggression.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz, Zelenskyy emphasized that punitive economic measures remain a strong deterrent against Russia’s war campaign.

When asked if sanctions and tariffs had backfired given Russia’s continued missile strikes, Zelenskyy firmly responded: “No. I think the idea to put tariffs on the countries who continue to make deals with Russia, I think this is the right idea.”

His remarks came after references to the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping met, showing close ties despite US-imposed tariffs on Russian oil trade.

Zelenskyy also rejected Putin’s recent invitation to hold talks in Moscow, making it clear that he cannot visit the capital of a country that continues to launch daily missile strikes against Ukraine. “He can come to Kyiv. If a person doesn’t want to meet during the war, of course, he can propose something acceptable. But I can’t go to Moscow when my country is under missiles and attacks every day. I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist,” he stated.

The Ukrainian leader accused Putin of using the offer of talks as a delaying tactic and as a political manoeuvre to buy time. “He is doing it to postpone the meeting. He is playing games, and he is playing games with the United States,” Zelenskyy said.

Earlier, Putin reiterated that he has “never ruled out” meeting Zelenskyy but stressed that such dialogue must be well-prepared and aligned with Ukraine’s constitutional framework.

Following his visit to China, the Russian President noted that talks could happen in Moscow if they aimed for a constructive outcome, even mentioning that former US President Donald Trump had also inquired about the possibility.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has called for stronger sanctions following Russia’s largest aerial assault of the war on Saturday night. In a series of posts on X, he urged global leaders to match their statements with decisive action by enforcing tariffs and trade restrictions against Russia and individuals linked to the Kremlin.