DOHA, Qatar – Ukraine’s president made a surprise video appearance Saturday at Qatar´s Doha Forum, calling on the energy-rich nation and others to boost their production to counteract the loss of Russian energy supplies.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the United Nations and world powers to come to his aid, as he has in a series of other addresses given around the world since the start of the war Feb. 24.
“They are destroying our ports,” Zelenskyy said according to AP. “The absence of exports from Ukraine will deal a blow to countries worldwide.”
Zelenskyy called on countries to increase their exports of energy – something particularly important as Qatar is a world leader in the export of natural gas. Western sanctions have deeply cut into Russian exports, which are crucial for European nations.
Also on hand was Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the top diplomat for the world’s biggest oil exporter.
Saudi Arabia so far has said it would stick with an OPEC+ production schedule the cartel struck with Russia and other producers.
The kingdom also said it wouldn’t be responsible for higher prices as it deals with attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels amid its yearslong war in the Arab world’s poorest country.
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