Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared before the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, claiming that Russia must be "forced into peace" for the war between Ukraine and Russia to end.
In his speech, Zelensky dismissed the notion that the war could end through negotiations or concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, rejecting arguments that Ukraine may need to cede territory to achieve peace. The Ukrainian president explained that the war would not end because “someone got tired of the war,” telling the UN that "This war can't be calmed by talks. Action is needed.”
"Putin has broken so many international norms and rules that he won't stop on his own, Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what's needed, forcing Russia into peace, as the sole aggressor in this war, the sole violator of the U.N. Charter," the Ukrainian president continued.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has resulted in Russia controlling approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, according to Reuters. The conflict shows no clear signs of resolution, despite ongoing Western support for Ukraine. Zelensky noted that Ukraine plans to hold another peace summit later this year, with an invitation extended to Russia.
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia spoke at the meeting in an effort to reject the council’s hosting of Zelensky, saying, “Western countries could not refrain from poisoning the atmosphere once again, trying to fill the air time with the hackneyed Ukrainian issue.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned China at the meeting for allegedly aiding Russia’s war efforts.
"China - another permanent member of this council - is the top provider of machine tools, microelectronics and other items that Russia is using to rebuild, to restock, to ramp up its war machine and sustain its brutal aggression,” Blinken said.
In response to Blinken's comments, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi refuted the accusations, calling it "irresponsible" to blame China for issues related to the war in Ukraine.
