Volodymyr Zelensky: Zelenskyy, in UN showdown, says strip ‘felony’ Russia of veto energy

UNITED NATIONS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday confronted Russia immediately on the UN Safety Council, denouncing the Kremlin’s invasion of his nation as “felony” and urging the United Nations to strip Moscow of its veto energy.
Clad in his trademark navy fatigues, Zelenskyy for the primary time because the February 2022 invasion sat in the identical room as a Russian official, who responded by scrolling by means of his smartphone with a glance of conspicuous disinterest.
“Many of the world acknowledges the reality about this battle,” Zelenskyy mentioned. “It’s a felony and unprovoked aggression by Russia towards our nation aimed toward seizing Ukraine’s territory and assets.”
Zelenskyy known as on the United Nations to vote to finish Russia’s veto energy on the Safety Council, the place Moscow joins solely Britain, China, France, and the USA in having the ability to block any decision.
The Ukrainian chief mentioned this transfer may very well be amongst wide-ranging reforms on the Safety Council that would come with giving everlasting illustration to nations within the growing world, the place help for Ukraine’s trigger has been lukewarm.
“Veto energy within the palms of the aggressor is what has pushed the UN right into a impasse,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
“It’s inconceivable to cease the battle as a result of all efforts are vetoed by the aggressor or those that condone the aggressor,” he mentioned.
Zelenskyy repeated the Ukrainian stance that Moscow’s veto energy belonged to the previous Soviet Union — one of many victors of World Conflict II after which the United Nations was created — and to not President Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
“Sadly, this seat on the Safety Council, which Russia occupies illegally by means of backstage manipulations following the collapse of the Soviet Union, has been taken by liars whose job it’s to whitewash the aggression and the genocide,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
Taking away Russia’s veto energy could be exceedingly tough, with Zelenskyy acknowledging that Moscow is not going to “hand over this stolen privilege voluntarily.”
There’s, nonetheless, precedent: the Common Meeting in 1971 transferred China’s veto-wielding seat from Taiwan, then thought of the nation’s consultant, to the communist authorities on the mainland.
Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov, displaying up on the Safety Council after Zelenskyy left, scoffed on the concept of ending Russia’s veto and described it as a technique to examine Western energy.
“Using the veto is a fully professional device specified by the (UN) Constitution,” Lavrov mentioned.
Lavrov denounced Zelenskyy, who’s searching for to win again all territory occupied by Russia, for not negotiating.
Russia’s prime diplomat then turned to the onlooking US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and recommended the USA might “give a command for Zelenskyy to carry the decree” towards negotiations.
Blinken, who had met Lavrov earlier than the battle to warn towards an invasion, has largely averted him because the battle and no talks have been deliberate in New York.
In his personal remarks as Lavrov entered the room, Blinken recalled a current go to to Ukraine the place he visited a city the place our bodies of Ukrainian civilians have been stacked among the many dwelling in a college basement.
“Russia is committing battle crimes and crimes towards humanity in Ukraine on an virtually each day foundation,” Blinken mentioned.
French International Minister Catherine Colonna mentioned the Safety Council assembly ought to present Russia that “virtually all states” need the battle to finish.
The battle has introduced blended emotions in components of the growing world, the place some nations have been aghast by the billions of {dollars} devoted by Western nations to arming Ukraine.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has outraged Ukraine by saying it shared blame for the battle, met for the primary time with Zelenskyy because the battle and mentioned he heard out his views.
Lula mentioned he advised Zelenskyy it was “necessary to construct an environment for negotiations to finish the battle.”
“Negotiating round a desk is less expensive than wire. There aren’t any victims, no deaths and no taking pictures,” Lula advised reporters.
However talking earlier than the Safety Council, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected calls by different nations for a right away ceasefire.
“I acknowledge their good intentions. All of us need an finish to the killing
— at this time slightly than tomorrow,” Scholz mentioned.
However he rejected imposing a “diktat,” saying that peace “means respecting the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine.”
Tensions erupted even earlier than Zelenskyy addressed the Safety Council, with the Russian aspect questioning the choice by present Safety Council president Albania, represented by Prime Minister Edi Rama, to permit the Ukrainian to go first.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, repeatedly asking to talk, advised Rama that letting Zelenskyy, a former comic, seem first risked turning the Safety Council into “a one-man stand-up present.”
Rama responded calmly however with rising annoyance, telling the Russian envoy, “There’s a resolution right here — you cease the battle, and President Zelenskyy is not going to take the ground.”