Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2023, calling for more military aid and a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for war crime
Zelenskyy said that Russia is “weaponizing” everything from food and energy to abducted children in its war against Ukraine.
He also said that Russia is using its veto power on the UN Security Council to prevent the international community from taking action to stop the war.
Zelenskyy called on the UN to establish a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s political and military leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
He said that such a tribunal would send a strong message that the international community will not tolerate impunity for war crimes.
Zelenskyy also called for more military aid to Ukraine. He said that Ukraine needs more weapons to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
Zelenskyy’s speech comes at a time when the war in Ukraine is now in its tenth month.
The war has caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, with millions of people displaced from their homes and thousands of civilians killed.
The UN General Assembly is the main deliberative assembly of the United Nations. It is composed of all 193 UN member states.
The General Assembly meets annually in New York City to discuss a wide range of issues, including international peace and security, economic development, and human rights.
Zelenskyy’s speech at the UN General Assembly is an important opportunity for him to raise awareness of the war in Ukraine and to call on the international community to take action to stop the war and bring those responsible for war crimes to justice.