Moscow uses energy as a weapon
Zelenskyj: Russia is constantly starting new wars
September 19, 2023, 10:42 p.m
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Ukrainian President Zelensky warns urgently against Russia at the UN. Although the country is fighting against Ukraine, it is also threatening many other countries – with the help of energy and food prices. In the case of Kiev, Russia is relying on another means: the abduction of children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj accused Russia at the United Nations of threatening many other states with its aggression. “It’s not just about Ukraine,” Zelensky said at the UN general debate in New York. “When hate is used as a weapon against a nation, it never ends,” he warned.
“Every decade Russia starts a new war.” Parts of Moldova and Georgia are occupied, Russia has almost annexed Belarus and is threatening Kazakhstan, the Baltic states – and the international order. “Many seats in the hall of the General Assembly could become empty if Russia succeeds in its treason and aggression.” In the war against Ukraine, Moscow is using not only military weapons, but also other weapons – “and these things are used not only against our country, but also against yours,” Zelenskyj said to the UN member states. “Russia is using food prices as a weapon,” he warned. “The impacts extend from the Atlantic coast of Africa to Southeast Asia.” Moscow also uses energy as a weapon to weaken governments of other countries.
In the case of Ukraine, Russia also uses the abduction of children. Zelensky described this as genocide. “These children are being taught to hate Ukraine in Russia and all ties with their families are being broken,” Zelensky said in his 15-minute speech. “This is clearly a genocide.”
In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin over the alleged abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. Russia, which is not a member of the ICC, rejected the allegations.
“Terrorists have no right to possess nuclear weapons,” Zelensky also warned, referring to Russia and its threats of nuclear destruction potential. “But truly, it’s not the atomic bombs that are the most frightening thing right now.”
Zelenskyj invites people to a peace summit
At the same time, Zelensky, who was only able to make a video message at the UN General Assembly last year, announced a “global peace summit”: “I invite all of you – all of you who do not tolerate aggression – to prepare this summit together.”
The Ukrainian president warned against attempts to conduct “shady deals” behind the scenes. “Evil cannot be trusted,” said Zelensky, referring to Russia and its President Vladimir Putin. “Ask Prigozhin.”
The head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a plane crash in August – exactly two months to the day after a rebellion by the Wagner mercenaries that put Prigozhin out of favor with Putin. Ukraine and the West suspect that the plane crash was an act of revenge by the Kremlin, which Moscow rejects.
The Ukrainian president personally took part in the UN general debate in New York for the first time since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against his country in February 2022. Last year he addressed the United Nations via video address.