Zelenskyy urges 'maximum' sanctions on Russia in Davos talk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for "maximum" sanctions against Russia during a virtual speech at the World Economic Forum gathering.

He says in a virtual speech Monday that sanctions need to go further to stop Russia's aggression, including an oil embargo, all of its banks blocked and cutting off trade with Russia completely.

Zelenskyy says his country has slowed Russian advances and his people's courage has stirred unseen unity of the democratic world.


He pushed for the complete withdrawal of foreign companies to prevent supporting its war.

Besides Zelenskyy's speech, there's also a sizable Ukrainian government delegation attending in person, making their case for more Western support in the country's fight against Russia.

Russian officials have not been invited to Davos this year, with what was dubbed the "Russia House" having been transformed by critics - including Ukrainian tycoon Victor Pinchuk and the country's Foreign Ministry - into what they call the "Russia War Crimes House."

The venue features photos of crimes and cruelties that Russian forces are accused of perpetuating. Some victims will speak out - including Anatoliy Fedoruk, the mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where killings of civilians drew outrage.

While Ukraine will capture attention on the meeting's first day, climate and environmental issues will be a constant theme as the forum looks to future challenges as much as the current ones.

One-third of the roughly 270 panel discussions through Thursday's finale will focus on climate change or its effects, with extreme weather, efforts to reach "net zero" emissions and finding new, cleaner sources of energy on the agenda.