Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, on Saturday called for a sanction list to deter potential Russian aggression.

“Develop an effective package of preventive sanctions to deter aggression. Guarantee Ukraine’s energy security, ensure its integration into the EU energy market when Nord Stream 2 is used as a weapon,” he said in his speech at the 58th Munich Security Conference.

He told CNN that he disagreed with the idea that sanctions should only be listed after an invasion.

“We don’t need your sanctions after the bombardment will happen and after our country will be fired at or after we will have no borders, or after we will have no economy … Why would we need those sanctions then?” he said.

Tensions at the Russia-Ukraine border have been escalating in recent weeks after Russia moved more than 100,000 troops and heavy weapons within striking distance of Ukraine.

The United States and other Ukrainian allies vowed to sanction Russia if the latter invades Ukraine.

G-7 foreign ministers reaffirmed Saturday that Russia would be faced with economic and financial sanctions.

“While we are ready to explore diplomatic solutions to address legitimate security concerns, Russia should be in no doubt that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences, including financial and economic sanctions on a wide array of sectoral and individual targets that would impose severe and unprecedented costs on the Russian economy. We will take coordinated restrictive measures in case of such an event,” read the statement.

Zelensky also showed frustration about the progress of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“We are told: the door is open. But so far authorized access only. If not all members of the Alliance want to see us or all members of the Alliance do not want to see us, be honest. Open doors are good, but we need open answers, not open questions for years,” he stated.

Ukraine’s seeking of membership in NATO has become the main dispute amid the tension at the Ukraine-Russia border.

Then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a constitutional amendment back in February 2019 committing the country to becoming a member of NATO and the European Union after the parliament passed the bill.

Zelensky reaffirmed recently that joining NATO is still the goal of his country.

“There is no signal from us that NATO membership is not our goal,” he told reporters after he met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Kyiv.