President Zelenskyy’s address at UN Security Council high-level meeting

“Ukraine wants peace more than anyone in the world. The front is on our land,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an address to the high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine on Sept. 23.

Distinguished leaders, representatives of states and governments, and all those who still pay attention to the work of the United Nations,

We must admit: the world’s attention to the UN is fading. The Organization has less influence, and too often, there is a lack of real decisions on fundamental issues.

This is exactly what we need to speak about today, about the tools that, sadly, are not working now. But they will work, I’m sure, they will work – if you are active, if we are active. Because the main tool is in your hands.

First of all, I thank the Republic of Korea for this meeting of the Security Council and for the opportunity to call for peace. Today, there will be a clear call for peace in this Council. And here is one of the main distortions of our time – whom must we call to peace and on whom must we press to achieve it?

One of the permanent members of this Council is doing everything to prolong the largest war in Europe since World War 2. Russia does this with impunity, using its veto power, buying influence, and keeping peace on hold. The Russian representative is here. But of course not the one who makes the real decisions. That man fears to sit face to face with Ukraine and the world and openly admit – he wants only war. Instead, Putin sends delegates who cannot and don’t want to stop the bloodshed. And when he appears abroad – in Beijing, or somewhere else – it’s only to buy more time for killing, pretending he seeks diplomacy.

Full text of the address: Office of the President of Ukraine