Zelensky Demands UN ‘Just Punishment’ for Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Russia deserves “just punishment” for crimes against his country.
“There is only one entity among all U.N. member states who would say now if he could interrupt my speech, that he is happy with this war,” Mr Zelensky said a reference to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who earlier Wednesday announced a significant expansion of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A special tribunal should be created to punish Russia, Mr. Zelensky said, and the country should be deprived of its veto right in the U.N. Security Council. Nations that have hewed to neutral positions in the conflict, Mr. Zelensky said, “only protect their vested interests.”
Mr. Zelensky, who has stayed in Ukraine rather than attending the General Assembly, delivered his address in a recording with the permission of U.N. members, and called out the handful of nations that joined Russia in voting against his request.
The speech was played for the Assembly after President Biden told the assembled leaders that the world’s “blood should run cold” over Russia’s attack on a sovereign nation.
“This war is about extinguishing Ukraine’s right to exist as a state,” Mr. Biden said. He accused Mr. Putin of making “irresponsible nuclear threats” and declared that “a nuclear war cannot be won, and must never be fought.”
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