Almost a year after he warned the world of Russia’s aggression in Crimea at the halls of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday addressed the UNGA once again via a pre-recorded video statement, wherein he called on the international community to punish Russia for committing various war crimes.
“The crime was committed against our state borders. The crime was committed against the lives of our people. The crime was committed against the dignity of our women and men,” Zelensky said, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. “Ukraine demands punishment for trying to steal our territory. Punishment for the murders of thousands of people. Punishment for tortures and humiliations of women and men,” he emphasised.
The battle-hardened Zelensky presented the Assembly with “five preconditions for peace” that would also punish Moscow. First, Zelensky stressed the world must continue punishing Russia. Noting that punishment is the first agenda of his peace plan, Zelensky said Russia must be punished until the internationally recognised border of Ukraine is restored.
“Therefore, sanctions against the aggressor are part of the peace formula. Blocking the trade and relations with the aggressor is part of the peace formula. All this is a punishment,” he said. He also urged the UN to strip Russia of its veto power and consider giving a permanent seat in the Security Council to either Japan, Brazil, Turkey, India, Germany, or Ukraine.
Zelensky also called on the UN to establish a special tribunal to investigate the Kremlin’s crimes. “We have prepared precise steps to establish such Tribunal. They will be presented to all states,” he noted.
Furthermore, he urged countries to impose visa restrictions on Russian tourists as punishment for abetting the war.
“There is only one Entity among all UN Member States who would say now, if he [Vladimir Putin] could interrupt my speech, that he is happy with this war—with his war. But we will not let this Entity prevail over us, even though it is the largest state in the world,” Zelensky stressed, refusing to take the name of Russian President Putin.
Second, he said the peace formula underscores the “protection of life.” Referring to mass graves found at Izium and Bucha, Zelensky blamed Russian forces for committing “mass murders” of men, women, children, and the elderly.
“We must protect life. The world must protect life. Every state suffering armed aggression needs the opportunity to protect its citizens and liberate its territory,” he remarked. To this end, he called on all countries to contribute to Ukraine’s cause through weapons, money, or intelligence.
What a moment, as 🇺🇦 President Zelensky’s #UNGA address closes with a spontaneous, minute-long, standing ovation. Slava Ukraini. pic.twitter.com/DqpWRwlwPv
— Phil (@PhilHD) September 21, 2022
The third item of the peace formula is “restoring security and territorial integrity,” Zelensky said. “Look at how many elements of global security Russia has undermined with its war—maritime safety, food safety, radiation safety, energy safety and safety from weapons of mass destruction,” he said.
The Ukrainian president stressed that Russia’s actions have made it challenging to provide food to countries facing a shortage and condemned the indiscriminate shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He said that Ukraine is not the only country affected by Russia’s moves, noting that it has negatively affected the whole world.
Zelensky said the fourth proposal is providing Ukraine with security guarantees. He stressed, “Every nation has the right to security guarantees. Not only the largest nations. Not only the most fortunate ones,” he emphasised. He insisted that upgrading Ukraine’s security would benefit Europe and the world, noting that he has already made presentations to Ukraine’s partners in this regard. Zelensky also mentioned that security guarantees should be in the form of legally binding multilateral and bilateral treaties
The Ukrainian President proposed “determination” as the fifth and final item of the peace initiative. He stressed that without determination, the other four items would not work. “This is our determination to fight. This is the determination of the partners to help us, and also themselves. And this is the determination of the world to unite around the one who fights against armed aggression and to call to order the one who threatens all,” he declared.
Standing ovation for Zelensky at #UNGA after his speech
— Harriet Alexander (@h_alexander) September 21, 2022
“If you look carefully at our peace formula, you will see that its implementation is already becoming a de-facto reform of the United Nations,” Zelensky claimed, adding, “Our formula is universal, and unites the North and the South of the world.”
He also said that Russia is not interested in negotiation. “They talk about the talks but announce military mobilisation. They talk about the talks but announce pseudo referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine,” Zelensky remarked, referring to Putin’s decision to partially mobilise 300,000 reserves to fight in Ukraine and Moscow’s decision to hold referendums in eastern Ukraine.
“Mankind and the international law are stronger than one terrorist state,” he said, adding that “Russia will be forced to end this war” if Ukraine’s peace proposals are accepted. Additionally, he thanked all 101 countries that voted for his video address to take place. Zelensky noted that only seven countries—Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria—voted against him speaking at the assembly.
Pointing out that the support Ukraine received has been overwhelming, Zelensky noted that “this means that peace will prevail over any aggression.” To conclude his speech the President proclaimed, “We are ready for peace. But true, honest and fair peace. That’s why the world is on our side.”