Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, addresses the general debate of the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 19 - 26 September 2023).
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Addressing the General Assembly, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Member States, “The mass destruction is gaining its momentum. The aggressor is weaponizing many other things and those things are used not only against our country but against all of yours as well.”
Speaking today (19 Sep) at the High-level week of the General Assembly, Zelenskyy remembered that Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal, at the time the third largest in the world.
The Head of State added, “The world then decided Russia should become a keeper of such power. Yet, history shows it was Russia who deserved nuclear disarmament the most back in the 1990s. And Russia deserves it now. Terrorists have no right to hold nuclear weapons. No right.”
Zelenskyy also said that “since the start of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian ports in the Black and Azov Seas have been blocked by Russia.”
He continued, “Until now, our ports on the Danube River remain the target for missiles and drones. And it is a clear Russia’s attempt to weaponize the food shortage on the global market in exchange for recognition for some, if not all, of the captured territories. Russia is launching the food prices as weapons.”
“Is there any sense to reduce nuclear weapons when Russia is weaponizing nuclear power plants? Scary question. The global security architecture offers NO response or protection against such a treacherous radiation threat… And there is no accountability for radiation blackmailers so far,” noted the President of Ukraine.
Addressing Member States, Zelenskyy added, “And the goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, resources into a weapon against you against you, the international rules-based order. Many seats in the General Assembly Hall may become empty if Russia succeeds with its treachery and aggression.”
For the Head of State, “as nukes are restrained, likewise the aggressor must be restrained and all its tools and methods of war.”
“Each war now can become final, but it takes our unity to make sure that aggression will not break in again,” added Zelenskyy.
He also noted, “I am aware of the attempts to make some shady dealings behind the scenes. Evil cannot be trusted ask Prigozhin if one bets on Putin’s promises. Please, hear me. Let unity decide everything openly.”
Zelenskyy said that “while Russia is pushing the world to the final war, Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after Russian aggression no one in the world will dare to attack any nation.”
The Ukrainian President concluded, “Weaponization must be restrained. War crimes must be punished. Deported people must come back home. And the occupier must return to their own land. We must be united to make it. And we will do it. Slava Ukraini.”
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