How Ukraine’s first lady struck a hammer blow against Putin via the UK

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska has repeatedly said that one of the most unexpected outcomes for Moscow after invading Ukraine is that “soft power fought back”. While countries across the world have imposed a number of sanctions on Russia since Vladimir Putin's invasion began, a spokesman for the foreign secretary told The Independent that the government “echoes the frustrations the first lady has expressed”, adding that it was working quickly to block the loopholes. “Once again I am talking about the fact that these resources risk being used endlessly until the aggressor is stopped.” Olena Zelenska has a clear message for the world about the need to support Ukraine Mrs Zelenska was firm about what that cost would be for Ukraine and the world. Without such help, this war “can go on for a long, endless time” as "Russia is too powerful, too big an enemy.” That is Olena Zelenska’s urgent message to Western allies and the world.