President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky answered questions from heads of corporations at the Yale CEO Summit on Wednesday, which was broadcasted by CNBC.
Volodymyr Zelensky called on all companies that remained in russia to leave the country and start operating in Ukraine.
“I would like companies to consider not only the option of leaving russia, but also finding their place in the Ukrainian economy,” Zelensky told US business leaders during a video conference at Yale University.
“It would be a strong sign of support to Ukraine,” he added.
Zelensky also urged company executives not to pay russian taxes, “as this money is used to finance russia's military machine.”
“russia has violated international law and our sovereignty,” Zelensky said. He added that russia did not follow the laws of business, so it would dictate its terms to companies. “Think if you can really run your business in russia now.”
The President of Ukraine warned that russia's occupation and blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea would cause “food genocide around the world.”
“We have grain blocked in Ukrainian ports worth $20 billion,” Zelensky said during a video conference.
“We will have an additional 50 billion tons of grain and food in Ukraine, which are stuck in Ukraine due to occupation and blockade,” he added.
russian forces are currently blocking about 12 Ukrainian ports in the Black and Azov Seas.