On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Volodymyr Zelenkyy addressed a UN security council meeting on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian President stated that Russia’s veto power has rendered the UN ineffective.

“Everyone in the world can see what exactly makes the UN ineffective. In this seat in the Security Council, which Russia occupies illegally due to behind-the-scenes manipulations after the collapse of the Soviet Union, sit liars whose job it is to justify the aggression and genocide committed by Russia.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

“The veto in the hands of the aggressor is what drove the UN into a dead end,” he added.

Zelenskyy averred that the current UN system means that other UN members are less influential than the few who wield veto power “and that is used by one – Russia – to the detriment of all other UN members.”

“These days, in the general assembly, we hear the world inequality too often. Inequality is mentioned by different nations, both larger and smaller. That is precisely the inequality that renders the UN ineffective.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Calling it a “necessary step,” Zelenskyy urged for the UN General Assembly to be given power to overcome the veto power held by Russia.

He iterated, “It is impossible to stop the war because all efforts are vetoed by the aggressor.”

“Many years of talks and projects on reforming the UN should become a process of reforming the UN. The use of the veto is what needs reform, and this could be a key reform,” he added.

Zelenskyy also noted that Ukraine considers it “unjust” when billions of people do not have a permanent representative in the security council, while Russia does.

He added that the security council should be “fully accountable” to UN member nations and that its permanent members should reflect the “current realities.”

Furthermore, the Ukrainian President called for African union to have a permanent place in the council, and that Asia deserves broader permanent representation.

He added that Germany should also have a place among the permanent members of the council as well as the Pacific states.

Zelenskyy Suggests “Specific Actions”

Speaking at the UN Security Council’s special session on the war in Ukraine, Zelenskyy asserted that Ukrainian soldiers are now doing with their blood what the UN Security Council should do with their votes; stopping aggression and defending the principles of the UN Charter.

Zelenskyy then went on to propose “specific actions” that should be implemented by the UNSC.

“Firstly, there should be complete withdrawal of all Russian troops and military formations, including the Russian Black Sea Fleet or those leaky troughs that will remain from it during the war, ” he averred.

“As well as the withdrawal of all Russian mercenaries and quasi-military formations from the entire sovereign territory of Ukraine within our internationally recognised borders 1991 year,” Zelenskky said.

“Secondly, Ukraine should hold effective control over our entire state border and exclusive economic zone in the Black and Azov Seas, as well as in the Kerch Strait once again. Only the fulfillment of these two points will result in a fair, reliable and complete cessation of hostilities.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy iterated, “Ukraine exercises its right to self-defence.”

“Helping Ukraine with weapons in this exercise, by imposing sanctions and exerting comprehensive pressure on the aggressor, as well as voting for relevant resolutions, would mean helping to defend the UN Charter.”
Volodymyr Zelenskky

Zelenskyy left the security council chamber after his remarks. He is therefore not in the chamber to hear remarks by Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.