Zelensky urges world leaders to seek real peace in Russia’s war in Ukraine

Ukraine’s president urged world leaders on Wednesday to stand by his country and not seek “a break” instead of “real, just peace” after two years of war with Russia.

As he faces mounting pressure from Western allies and some of his fellow Ukrainians to negotiate a ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi told the UN General Assembly that there was no alternative to the peace formula that presented it two years ago. It seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine, accountability for war crimes, the release of prisoners of war and deportees, nuclear security, energy and food security, and more.

“Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are actually efforts to achieve a pause rather than an end to the war,” Zelenskyy said, urging nations to “put pressure” on Russia.

“Don’t divide the world. Be united nations,” he implored. “And that will bring us peace.”

Russia has not yet had its turn to speak at the annual gathering of presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and other senior officials. Low-level Russian diplomats took country seats in the huge assembly hall during Zelensky’s speech.

President Vladimir Putin is not attending this year’s high-level meetings at the General Assembly; Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to deliver the state of the nation address on Saturday instead.

In Moscow on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized remarks Zelenskyi made a day earlier, when the Ukrainian president told the UN Security Council that Russia must “be forced to peace.” Dmitry Peskov called this position “a fatal mistake” and “a profound misconception, which, of course, will inevitably have consequences for the Kiev regime.”

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The war in Ukraine has taken center stage the last two times world leaders have convened for the UN’s signature annual meeting. But this year, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the escalating developments along the Israeli-Lebanese border have been in the spotlight.

Ukraine and Russia, with one of the most powerful armies in the world, are locked in a grinding battle along a 600-mile front line.

The war began when Russia invaded in February 2022, claiming, among other explanations, to protect Russian-speakers in Ukraine.

During the fighting, Russia gained momentum in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine surprised Russia by sending troops across the border in a daring incursion last month.

Ukrainian officials rejected a Chinese and Brazilian peace plan, believing it would only buy time for Moscow.

“When some propose alternatives, heartless settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, they not only ignore the interests and suffering of Ukrainians who are most affected by the war, they not only ignore reality, they give Putin and political power. space to continue the war,” Zelensky told the gathering on Wednesday.

To supporters of alternative plans, he reprimanded: “You will not increase your power at the expense of Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy is expected to present a victory plan this week to US President Joe Biden. While the plan has not been released, it is intended to outline what Ukraine believes it needs — quickly — from its Western allies to win.

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