“A crime has been committed against Ukraine and we demand punishment,” Zelensky said, wearing his usual fatigues, in a pre-recorded message that was met with a standing ovation from scattered delegates in the room in New York. Russia’s invasion of another member state had upended the world order, he said, echoing assessments made by several world leaders on the same stage earlier in the day, including US President Joe Biden. “As long as the aggressor participates in decision-making in the international organization, you must be isolated from them, at least until the aggression stops,” he added. “Remove the right to vote. Take away the rights of representation. Remove the right of veto — if a member of the UN Security Council.”
“Russia is afraid of negotiations”
Zelensky described Putin as an increasingly lonely figure on the world stage. “Ukraine wants peace, Europe wants peace, the world wants peace, and we have seen who is the only one who wants war. There is only one entity among all the member states of the UN, who would say now, if he could interrupt my speech that he is happy with this war,” Zelensky said. He also predicted that Russia intended to use the winter to prepare its forces for a new attack on Ukraine. Putin earlier on Wednesday announced the “partial mobilization” of Russian citizens to support the invasion and raised the specter of the use of nuclear weapons. In his speech, Zelensky criticized the idea of ”neutrality” towards the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, warning that indifference itself is what creates the conditions for war. “Those who speak of neutrality, when human values and peace are under attack, mean something else. They speak of indifference — every man for himself,” he said. Zelensky also claimed that previous attempts to negotiate with the Kremlin had failed, saying there had been “88 rounds of talks in various forms” in an attempt to prevent Russia’s invasion before it began in February.
Appeal for military aid
In his speech, Zelensky repeated his earlier calls for friendly countries to support Ukraine’s struggle with military aid and also outlined a five-condition “peace formula” including punishment for Russia such as sanctions and diplomatic isolation. restoration of Ukrainian territory; security guarantees; and “protection of life”. “For us, this is a war of life. That’s why we need defense support — weapons, military equipment and shells. Offensive weapons, a long range are enough to liberate our land and defense systems, above all, air defense. And we need financial support — to maintain internal stability and fulfill social obligations to our people,” Zelensky said. The final condition for peace, he added, will be “decisiveness” — from Ukraine and from the world. “This is our determination to fight. This is the determination of partners to help us, but also themselves. And this is the determination of the world to unite around him who fights against armed aggression and to call to order him who it threatens everything,” he said. Russia is expected to address the world body later in the week.
