The five-point plan urged world powers to punish Russia and increase military aid to Kyiv in an effort to force Moscow’s forces out of Ukraine, which Russia invaded on February 24. “Russia wants war, it’s true, but Russia will not be able to stop the course of history,” Zelensky said. The remarks were a tacit rebuke of non-Western and developing countries that have called on Ukraine and Russia to immediately join a negotiated end to the conflict. “Russia will be forced to end this war, the war it has started,” Zelensky said. “I rule out that settlement can happen on a different basis.” Several non-aligned countries this week maintained a neutral position on the conflict – a stance Zelensky described as simply seeking to “protect their vested interests”. The remarks drew a rare round of applause from world leaders at the UN General Assembly, who earlier voted to allow Zelensky to address the body remotely by a 101-7 count – a privilege denied to other world leaders. The Russian delegation remained seated after Zelensky’s remarks, along with delegations from Namibia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. Zelensky scolded the seven countries that voted against his request, saying they were “afraid of a video address”. As part of his plan, Zelensky said a special court should be formed to punish Russia. He also said the Kremlin should lose the veto power it enjoys as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Zelensky said the entire international community wants peace except Russia. “Ukraine wants peace, Europe wants peace, the world wants peace, and we have seen who is the only one who wants war,” he said, without naming Russian President Vladimir Putin. “There is only one entity among all the member states of the UN who would say now, if they could interrupt my speech, that they are happy with this war, with their war.” Zelensky said Ukraine will regain its territory, but that it will take time and require military force. He renewed his calls for nations to send military aid to Ukraine so it can push back Russia’s better-equipped forces. “We can return the flag of Ukraine to our entire territory. We can do it by force of arms, but we need time,” he said. The speech came as Putin looked set to escalate the conflict by announcing referendums in four occupied Ukrainian regions on joining Russia – apparently a precursor to annexation. Putin also announced a partial mobilization order for about 300,000 reservists to join the war.
