The Ukrainian President’s video message was shown at the General Assembly.
(Photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire)
new York Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked the United Nations to punish Russia for the aggressive war against his country. “A crime has been committed against Ukraine and we demand punishment,” Zelensky said in a video message to the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. Russia must be punished for the killing, torture, humiliation and disastrous turmoil it has thrown Ukraine into.
The Russian war of aggression dominates this year’s general debate at the UN General Assembly. Selenski was the only one of more than 140 heads of state and government who spoke there via video message. He had received an exemption from the board because of the Russian war of aggression.
The President used his speech to call for further military support for his country from the international community. “We can return the Ukrainian flag to our entire territory, we can do it with weapons, but we need time,” said Zelenskiy. More support is needed for both defense and attack, and more financial help is also needed. Ukraine has been fighting the Russian invasion since February 24 and was recently able to recapture large areas from the occupiers.
Zelensky also called for further visa restrictions for Russian citizens. They should not be able to travel to other countries for shopping and vacations, he demanded. Ukraine also wants to implement an international compensation mechanism and hopes for the support of the United Nations. “Russia should pay for this war with its wealth,” he said.
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Zelensky made it clear that the war was not only a danger to his own country with an urgent warning in view of the situation at the contested Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia. Russia’s actions there “make you all a target,” Zelenskiy said. The “Russian radiation blackmail is something that should concern every single one of you” because no one will have a vaccine against radiation sickness.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been under Russian control since the beginning of March. With its six reactors and a net output of 5700 megawatts, it is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Moscow and Kyiv blame each other for shelling the facility. An accumulation of incidents that led to the shutdown of reactors and power outages had increased international concern about a nuclear catastrophe.
According to the Ukrainian President, Russia is not seriously interested in peace talks. “They talk about the talks, but they announce a military mobilization. They talk about the talks, but they announce mock referendums,” said Zelensky, referring to the recent announcements by the Russian leadership around President Vladimir Putin. His conclusion: “Russia wants war.”
More: “Basic requirement” for nuclear weapons: Military experts analyze Putin’s new steps