2/2 © Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar 2/2
By Michelle Nichols and Gabriela Baczynska
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to world leaders gathered at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday to act united against the Russian invasion, saying Moscow must be pushed back for the world to reach resolution to address pressing global challenges.
Zelenskiy drew applause as he took his place at the lectern at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, making his first in-person appearance at the annual United Nations General Assembly since Russia invaded his country in 2022.
“Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that no one in the world will dare to attack any country after Russian aggression,” he said. “Armaments must be restricted, war crimes must be punished, deportees must return to their homeland and the occupiers must return to their own country.”
“We have to be united to get it done – and we will get it done.”
He accused Russia of manipulating global food markets to seek international recognition of ownership of the land seized in Kiev.
In a nod to the Global South, whose support he is seeking in his conflict with Russia, Zelensky spoke about the worsening climate crisis and natural disasters and mentioned the recent earthquake in Morocco and the floods in Libya.
“We have to stop it. We must act together to defeat the aggressor and focus all our skills and energy on meeting these challenges,” he told the General Assembly.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said nine people were killed in Russian attacks, including a drone strike that set fire to industrial warehouses.
Zelensky accused Russia of kidnapping Ukrainian children.
In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of illegally deporting children from Ukraine. The Kremlin rejects the allegations and the court’s jurisdiction.
“These children in Russia are being taught to hate Ukraine and all ties with their families are being severed. And this is clearly genocide when hatred against a nation is used as a weapon,” Zelenskiy said.
Last year, Zelensky presented a 10-point plan that called for the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and the cessation of hostilities, as well as the restoration of Ukraine’s state borders.
He said he was now working on a peace summit based on this: “Tomorrow I will present the details at a special session of the UN Security Council.”
Source : www.investing.com