President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to speak at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) later today, Wednesday, September 25, 2024, to seek global support for Ukraine during its war with Russia.
Zelenskyy made his first wartime appearance at the UNGA last year.
His appearance today comes as Russian troops advance in the east and a US presidential election that could place the future of military aid to Ukraine on shaky territory if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wins.
At a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Zelenskyy dismissed calls to negotiate a settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and called on a broad alliance of nations to “force Russia into peace.”
In his speech, he said that further pressure was needed to conclude a peace with Russia after it had been “doing things that cannot possibly be justified under the UN charter.”
“That’s why this war can’t be conquered by talks,” Zelenskyy said.
“Action is needed … Putin has broken so many international laws and rules that he won’t stop. Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what’s needed, forcing Russia into peace as the sole aggressor in this war, the sole violator of the UN charter.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
After thanking Ukraine’s allies for their support, the Ukrainian leader appealed to countries further afield, calling on Brazil, India and countries across Africa and Latin America, to increase pressure on Russia to halt the war, saying “all [countries] are equally important for peace without exceptions.”
Many of those countries have economic or close diplomatic ties with Russia and have given greater credence to Putin’s claims that Russia was provoked into the war by the west.
“We know some in the world want to talk to Putin. To meet, to talk, to speak. But what could they possibly hear from him? That he’s upset because we are exercising our right to defend our people? Or that he wants to keep the war and terror going, just so no one thinks he was wrong?”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
He added, “It’s insane.”
Later this week, Zelenskyy will travel to the White House to meet with Joe Biden and discuss his “victory plan” – a roadmap for Ukraine to end the war with greater western support.
Kremlin Calls Zelenskyy Plan To Force Russia Into Peace A Fatal Mistake
The Kremlin on Wednesday decried called the plan by Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy to force Russia to make peace.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said, “Such a position is a fatal mistake, a systemic mistake.”
“This is a profound misconception that will inevitably have consequences for the Kyiv regime,” he added.
Peskov said that Russia wants peace, but the issue cannot be forced.
“A position based on an attempt to force Russia into peace is an absolutely fatal mistake, because it is impossible to force Russia into peace. Russia is a supporter of peace, but on the condition that the foundations of its security are ensured.”
Dmitry Peskov
Russian President, Vladimir Putin said in June that Russia would end the war in Ukraine only if Kyiv agreed to drop its ambitions to join NATO and to hand over the entirety of four regions claimed by Moscow, demands Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to surrender.
Ukraine and its western allies say Putin must be prevented from winning the war because, if not stopped, he will threaten other neighbouring states.
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