Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the U.N. Security Council on September 24, stating that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can only be stopped through a forceful response. Zelenskyy emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin has disregarded numerous international norms and rules and will not stop on his own. He asserted that Russia can only be compelled into peace, which is exactly what is needed.
Zelenskyy made these remarks ahead of his scheduled address to the entire U.N. General Assembly on September 25. He announced plans for a new peace summit regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine and invited all principled nations to attend, stating that this process will lead to a just and lasting peace.
During the Security Council meeting, several other members rebuked Russia for its actions in Ukraine. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and referred to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 as a clear violation of the U.N. charter.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also criticized North Korea and Iran for supplying weapons to Russia, highlighting China’s role as well in providing machine tools and microelectronics used by Russia to rebuild its war machine.
Blinken stressed that there is an important distinction between countries supporting Russia versus those supporting Ukraine, with Russia being the aggressor fighting for conquest while Ukraine fights for survival.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on September 26 to present a new “victory plan” aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The plan may include calls for Western partners, including the United States, to equip Ukrainian forces with long-range strike capabilities inside Russian territory.
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff confirmed that NATO membership security guarantees are part of this plan but have been met with skepticism from Western allies.
In response to criticisms at the Security Council meeting, Russian representative Vasily Nebenzya argued that their invasion was not unprovoked aggression but rather connected to events following Yanukovych’s ouster in 2014 which he called “a coup instigated by the West.”
Nebenzya claimed that Donbas separatism could have been resolved peacefully through previous agreements but accused post-Yanukovych Ukrainian leadership of sabotaging them and preparing for war with assistance from the U.S. and their allies.
The Algerian delegate suggested mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine while encouraging discussions addressing root causes of conflict while considering both parties’ security concerns.
