In a bold and direct address to the United Nations Security Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, condemning it as a “criminal and unprovoked aggression” while pushing for the removal of Moscow’s UN veto power.
Sporting his trademark military attire, Zelensky made his presence felt at the Security Council for the first time since the February 2022 invasion, sitting across from a Russian representative who appeared disinterested, scrolling through a smartphone.
Addressing the international body, Zelensky stressed that the majority of the global community recognized the true nature of the conflict, describing it as Russia’s unlawful attempt to seize Ukrainian territory and resources. “Most of the world recognizes the truth about this war,” Zelensky asserted.
He called on the United Nations to take the crucial step of stripping Russia of its veto power in the Security Council, characterizing it as an essential reform that would simultaneously enhance the representation of developing nations within the UN, where support for Ukraine has been somewhat tepid.
Zelensky emphasized the role of veto power in the hands of an aggressor, asserting that it had contributed to a gridlock within the United Nations. “It is impossible to stop the war because all efforts are vetoed by the aggressor or those who condone the aggressor,” he argued.
The Ukrainian leader reiterated the Ukrainian position that the veto power rightfully belonged to the former Soviet Union, one of the victorious nations of World War II that participated in the establishment of the United Nations, and not to President Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
“Regrettably, this seat in the Security Council, illicitly occupied by Russia through behind-the-scenes maneuvers following the collapse of the Soviet Union, is now held by those who seek to justify the aggression and the genocide,” Zelensky declared. His impassioned plea drew attention from the international community as the world continues to monitor the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
