Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the Security Council via video link during a meeting on threats to international peace and security, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at United Nations headquarters.Mary Altaffer/AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears on a video screen as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at United Nations headquarters.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that “the world’s future” is being decided in its war against Russia’s “insane aggression” and that maintaining his country’s independence is “the security of the entire world.”
He warned the U.N. Security Council on the six-month anniversary of the invasion that if Russia isn’t stopped, “then all these Russian murderers will inevitably end up in other countries — Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America.”
“There are traces of Russian war criminals everywhere and we must all get united and act decisively as soon as possible so there are no more traces of Russian missiles, and no more cities burned by Russian military — so that there would be no threat of the radiation catastrophe ever, ever again,” he said.
Zelenskyy addressed the U.N.’s most powerful body not only on the anniversary of the invasion but on Ukraine’s independence day, stressing the crucial link between what happens in the war to the future security and geopolitical architecture of the world.
As his country celebrates its 1991 independence from the former Soviet Union, “everyone can see how much the world is dependent on our independence,” Zelenskyy said.
He stressed the sovereignty and territorial of all countries and demanded that Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory it has captured and end its territorial ambitions.
Zelenskyy claimed Russia “rewards murderers and encourages executioners” and told council members that his government will introduce a U.N. General Assembly resolution to hold Russia accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a “Summit of the Future” next year and Zelenskyy said it would be symbolic to hold it in Ukraine, because “it is on the territory of Ukraine that the world’s future is decided, whether we will have a future at all.”
Zelenskyy spoke by video over objections from Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, who said council rules require leaders to be present in the council chamber at U.N. headquarters in New York to deliver a speech. He said the Ukrainian leader already had been allowed to give video addresses on two previous occasions because of special circumstances and should not be allowed a third time.
The overwhelming majority of the 15-member council disagreed — 13 countries voted in favor of another video speech by Zelenskyy, Russia voted against it and China abstained.
Guterres called the six-month anniversary of the Russian invasion “a sad and tragic milestone,” with no end in sight to the war.
He pointed to thousands of civilian casualties, grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, millions of Ukrainians who have lost their homes and are displaced or refugees, and rapidly rising humanitarian needs as winter approaches.
“The consequences of this senseless war are being felt far beyond Ukraine,” Guterres said. “We are seeing new vulnerabilities emerge in a global environment already worn out by conflicts, inequality, pandemic-induced economic and health crises, and climate change — with a disproportionate impact on developing countries.”
Guterres warned that the acceleration of already high food, fertilizer and energy prices “has triggered a global crisis that could drive millions more into extreme poverty.”
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield addressed Zelenskyy, saying the United States stands with Ukraine “today and every day, and every Russian bomb that falls only strengthens our resolve to support your sovereignty and your independence.”
Six months after the invasion, she said, “Russia’s goal is as clear as ever: to dismantle Ukraine as a geopolitical entity and erase it from the world map.”
Nebenzia again blamed “the Kyiv regime” that came to power in 2014 — the year Russia invaded and annexed Crimea — for what many council members called “the catastrophic consequences” of six months of hostilities.
To Western nations claiming Russia is threatening Ukrainian independence, Nebenzia said, “the only threat to the independence of Ukraine is the current government of Kyiv,” which he claimed makes no major decision without consulting Western advisers.
He also accused Ukraine’s government of suppressing the opposition, persecuting people for reading Russian language news, and imprisoning them for accepting humanitarian aid from Russia.
After the meeting, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya read a statement on behalf of 55 countries and the European Union denouncing Russia for its “unprovoked full-scale and illegal invasion” and deploring its failure to comply with U.N. General Assembly resolutions calling for an immediate halt to its use of force against Ukraine.
With diplomats from many of the countries standing alongside, the statement read by Kyslytsa reaffirmed their solidarity with Ukraine, condemned Russian missile strikes that have killed civilians and destroyed civilian buildings, and reiterated their demand for an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of Russian forces.
Nebenzia was asked by a reporter if the media would be back for a one-year anniversary.
“I’m no fortuneteller,” he replied
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the Security Council thru video hyperlink in the course of a assembly on threats to global peace and protection, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at United Nations headquarters.Mary Altaffer/AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seems on a video display as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks in the course of a Security Council assembly on threats to global peace and protection, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at United Nations headquarters.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Wednesday that “the arena’s destiny” is being determined in its battle towards Russia’s “insane aggression” and that keeping his united states of america’s independence is “the safety of the whole world.”
He warned the U.N. Security Council at the six-month anniversary of the invasion that if Russia isn’t stopped, “then these types of Russian murderers will necessarily come to be in different nations — Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America.”
“There are lines of Russian battle criminals anywhere and we have to all get united and act decisively as quickly as feasible so there aren’t anyt any extra lines of Russian missiles, and no extra towns burned via way of means of Russian military — in order that there might be no danger of the radiation disaster ever, ever once more,” he stated.
Zelenskyy addressed the U.N.’s maximum effective frame now no longer most effective at the anniversary of the invasion however on Ukraine’s independence day, stressing the essential hyperlink among what occurs withinside the battle to the destiny protection and geopolitical structure of the arena.
As his united states of america celebrates its 1991 independence from the previous Soviet Union, “anyone can see how a lot the arena is depending on our independence,” Zelenskyy stated.
He pressured the sovereignty and territorial of all nations and demanded that Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory it has captured and give up its territorial ambitions.
Zelenskyy claimed Russia “rewards murderers and encourages executioners” and instructed council contributors that his authorities will introduce a U.N. General Assembly decision to preserve Russia answerable for the crime of aggression towards Ukraine.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has known as for a “Summit of the Future” subsequent 12 months and Zelenskyy stated it’d be symbolic to preserve it in Ukraine, because “it’s far at the territory of Ukraine that the arena’s destiny is determined, whether or not we are able to have a destiny at all.”
Zelenskyy spoke via way of means of video over objections from Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, who stated council regulations require leaders to be gift withinside the council chamber at U.N. headquarters in New York to supply a speech. He stated the Ukrainian chief already were allowed to offer video addresses on preceding events due to unique situations and need to now no longer be allowed a 3rd time.
The vast majority of the 15-member council disagreed — thirteen nations voted in want of every other video speech via way of means of Zelenskyy, Russia voted towards it and China abstained.
Guterres known as the six-month anniversary of the Russian invasion “a unhappy and tragic milestone,” with out a lead to sight to the battle.
He pointed to lots of civilian casualties, grave violations of global human rights and humanitarian law, tens of thousands and thousands of Ukrainians who’ve misplaced their houses and are displaced or refugees, and swiftly growing humanitarian desires as iciness approaches.
“The effects of this mindless battle are being felt a long way past Ukraine,” Guterres stated. “We are seeing new vulnerabilities emerge in a international surroundings already wiped out via way of means of conflicts, inequality, pandemic-brought on monetary and fitness crises, and weather change — with a disproportionate effect on growing nations.”
Guterres warned that the acceleration of already excessive food, fertilizer and electricity prices “has caused a international disaster that might pressure tens of thousands and thousands extra into severe poverty.”
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield addressed Zelenskyy, pronouncing america stands with Ukraine “these days and each day, and each Russian bomb that falls most effective strengthens our clear up to assist your sovereignty and your independence.”
Six months after the invasion, she stated, “Russia’s intention is as clean as ever: to dismantle Ukraine as a geopolitical entity and erase it from the arena map.”
Nebenzia once more blamed “the Kyiv regime” that got here to electricity in 2014 — the 12 months Russia invaded and annexed Crimea — for what many council contributors known as “the catastrophic effects” of six months of hostilities.
To Western countries claiming Russia is threatening Ukrainian independence, Nebenzia stated, “the most effective danger to the independence of Ukraine is the modern authorities of Kyiv,” which he claimed makes no essential choice with out consulting Western advisers.
He additionally accused Ukraine’s authorities of suppressing the opposition, persecuting humans for analyzing Russian language news, and imprisoning them for accepting humanitarian resource from Russia.
After the assembly, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya study a announcement on behalf of fifty five nations and the European Union denouncing Russia for its “unprovoked full-scale and unlawful invasion” and deploring its failure to conform with U.N. General Assembly resolutions calling for a right away halt to its use of pressure towards Ukraine.
With diplomats from some of the nations status alongside, the announcement study via way of means of Kyslytsa reaffirmed their unity with Ukraine, condemned Russian missile moves which have killed civilians and destroyed civilian buildings, and reiterated their call for for a right away cease-hearthplace and withdrawal of Russian forces.
Nebenzia turned into requested via way of means of a reporter if the media might be returned for a one-12 months anniversary.
“I’m no fortuneteller,” he replied