Ukrainian Member of Parliament Lisa Yasko said any country continuing to trade with Russia is on the wrong side of history [1].
The statement highlights the growing pressure from Kyiv for global powers to implement stricter economic isolation of Moscow to limit its ability to fund military operations. By framing trade as a moral and historical failing, Ukraine seeks to isolate Russia further from the global economy.
Yasko, a member of the Servant of the People party, said during an appearance on France 24 [1]. She said that maintaining commercial ties with Russia provides the necessary resources to sustain its aggression against Ukraine [1]. This economic support, she suggested, makes trading partners complicit in the conflict.
During the interview, Yasko addressed the role of major global economies. She said, "China remains on the wrong side of history as long as it continues trading with Russia" [1].
The comments reflect a broader Ukrainian strategy to shift the narrative of the conflict from a regional territorial dispute to a global struggle between democratic values and authoritarianism. Yasko said that the choice to trade with Russia is not merely a business decision, it is a political stance that will be judged by future generations [1].
Kyiv has repeatedly called for a total blockade of Russian exports and imports to accelerate the end of the war. While some Western nations have implemented significant sanctions, other nations continue to maintain trade links, particularly in energy, and raw materials [1]. Yasko's remarks underscore the frustration within the Ukrainian government regarding the uneven application of international sanctions.
“Any country trading with Russia is on the wrong side of history.”
These assertions indicate that Ukraine is intensifying its diplomatic campaign to move beyond bilateral military aid and toward a global economic embargo. By specifically naming China, Yasko is signaling that Kyiv views neutral or opportunistic trade stances as active support for Russian aggression, potentially complicating future diplomatic relations between Ukraine and non-aligned trading hubs.
