Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky encouraged the sanctions on Russia to continue during his Thursday press briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris. 

"We have to keep pressure on Russia to stop the war and to make truly lasting and just peace," Zelensky said. "It's a top priority for us."

Western leaders have discussed this week whether or not they would allow Kyiv to use weapons supplied by the West to hit targets deep inside Russia.

The U.S. has supported Ukraine financially amid its ongoing war with Russia. This is Zelensky's seventh visit with Harris. 

"We need to keep sanctions against Russia strong, and we need to use that process from immobilized Russian assets to protect Ukraine, our people, our cities [and] our frontline from Russian evil," Zelensky said. 

Harris also slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin during her remarks. 

"History has shown us that if we allow aggressors like Putin to take land with impunity, they keep going," she said. "And Putin could set his sights on Poland, the Baltic states and other NATO allies."