Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the U.N. General Assembly, urging world leaders to unite against Russia’s invasion and emphasizing the need to address global challenges. Zelenskiy received applause as he spoke at the annual UNGA, marking his first in-person appearance since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to preventing future aggression and called for restraint in weaponization, punishment for war crimes, the return of deported individuals, and the restoration of occupied territories. Zelenskiy stressed the importance of unity in achieving these goals.
Zelenskiy accused Russia of manipulating global food markets to gain international recognition of its ownership of seized land from Ukraine. In an effort to gain support from the Global South in his standoff with Russia, Zelenskiy highlighted the worsening climate crisis and recent natural disasters in Morocco and Libya. He aimed to draw attention to the urgent need for collective action.
Zelenskiy emphasized the necessity of stopping the aggression and uniting to address global challenges. He called on the General Assembly to focus all capabilities and energy on defeating the aggressor. Earlier on the same day, Ukrainian officials reported casualties from Russian attacks, including a drone strike that caused fires in industrial warehouses. Zelenskiy also accused Russia of kidnapping Ukrainian children, referencing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin denies these allegations and rejects the court’s jurisdiction.
Zelenskiy previously presented a 10-point plan to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, withdraw Russian troops, cease hostilities, and restore state borders. He now aims to organize a peace summit based on this plan and will provide further details at a special meeting of the U.N. Security Council. The article was reported by Gabriela Baczynska and Michelle Nichols, with editing by Howard Goller. The article adheres to the Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles.
