Ukraine’s President Zelensky Calls for Global Action Against Russian Aggression in Fiery UN Address
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a passionate speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.Mmarking his first in-person appearance before the international body since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Zelensky urged the global community to unite against Russian aggression and emphasized the critical need for solidarity in the face of the ongoing conflict.
During his address, Zelensky stated, “The goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our lands, our people, our resources into a weapon against you, against the international rules-based order.” He warned that the General Assembly might witness empty seats if Russia succeeded in its treacherous and aggressive actions.
The Ukrainian president received resounding applause upon taking the stage and used his allotted 15 minutes to accuse Russian leaders of engaging in acts of terrorism and genocide, with a particular focus on the forced removal of Ukrainian children from the occupied regions. These allegations have led to an international war crimes arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, as some Russian officials have openly acknowledged the practice, even boasting about their efforts to relocate children to Russia and grant them Russian citizenship.
Zelensky also addressed concerns related to the global food trade, citing the failure of the Black Sea grain deal and accusing Russia of weaponizing it. He further highlighted the dangers of turning foreign power plants into potential threats, referring to them as “dirty bombs.”
“Weaponization must be restrained, war crimes must be punished, deported people must come back home, and the occupier must return to their own land. We must be united to achieve this, and we will,” declared Zelensky.
In a cautionary note to nations engaging in what he described as “shady” cooperation with Russia, the Ukrainian president referenced the recent death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian private military company known as Wagner. Zelensky warned against trusting “evil” forces and questioned the reliability of promises made by Russian leaders.
Throughout Zelensky’s speech, the Russian representative in the General Assembly hall was observed taking notes and checking his phone. Zelensky is expected to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and travel to Washington later in the week.