Zelenskky says world's future being decided in Ukraine's war against Russia’s 'insane aggression'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that “ world’s future” is being decided in its war against Russia’s “insane aggression” and that maintaining his country’s independence is “ security of entire world.”

He warned U.N. Security Council on six-month anniversary of invasion that if Russia isn’t stopped, “n all se Russian murderers will inevitably end up in or countries — Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America.”

“re are traces of Russian war criminals everywhere and we must all get united and act decisively as soon as possible so re are no more traces of Russian missiles, and no more cities burned by Russian military — so that re would be no threat of riation catastrophe ever, ever again,” he said.

Zelenskyy dressed U.N.’s most powerful body not only on anniversary of invasion but on Ukraine’s independence day, stressing crucial link between what happens in war to future security and geopolitical architecture of world.

As his country celebrates its 1991 independence from former Soviet Union, “everyone can see how much world is dependent on our independence,” Zelenskyy said.

He stressed sovereignty and territorial of all countries and demanded that Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory it has captured and end its territorial ambitions.

Zelenskyy claimed Russia “rewards murderers and encourages executioners” and told council members that his government will introduce a U.N. General Assembly resolution to hold Russia accountable for crime of aggression against Ukraine.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a “Summit of Future” next year and Zelenskyy said it would be symbolic to hold it in Ukraine, because “it is on territory of Ukraine that world’s future is decided, wher we will have a future at all.”

Zelenskyy spoke by video over objections from Russia’s U.N. ambassor, Vassily Nebenzia, who said council rules require leers to be present in council chamber at U.N. hequarters in New York to deliver a speech. He said Ukrainian leer alrey h been allowed to give video dresses on two previous occasions because of special circumstances and should not be allowed a third time.

overwhelming majority of 15-member council disagreed — 13 countries voted in favor of anor video speech by Zelenskyy, Russia voted against it and China abstained.

Guterres called six-month anniversary of Russian invasion “a s and tragic milestone,” with no end in sight to war.

He pointed to thousands of civilian casualties, grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, millions of Ukrainians who have lost ir homes and are displaced or refugees, and rapidly rising humanitarian needs as winter approaches.

“ consequences of this senseless war are being felt far beyond Ukraine,” Guterres said. “We are seeing new vulnerabilities emerge in a global environment alrey worn out by conflicts, inequality, pandemic-induced economic and health crises, and climate change — with a disproportionate impact on developing countries.”

Guterres warned that acceleration of alrey high food, fertilizer and energy prices “has triggered a global crisis that could drive millions more into extreme poverty.”

U.S. Ambassor Linda Thomas-Greenfield dressed Zelenskyy, saying United States stands with Ukraine “today and every day, and every Russian bomb that falls only strengns our resolve to support your sovereignty and your independence."

Six months after invasion, she said, “Russia's goal is as clear as ever: to dismantle Ukraine as a geopolitical entity and erase it from world map."

Nebenzia again blamed “ Kyiv regime” that came to power in 2014 — year Russia inved and annexed Crimea — for what many council members called “ catastrophic consequences" of six months of hostilities.

To Western nations claiming Russia is threatening Ukrainian independence, Nebenzia said, “ only threat to independence of Ukraine is current government of Kyiv,” which he claimed makes no major decision without consulting Western visers.

He also accused Ukraine's government of suppressing opposition, persecuting people for reing Russian language news, and imprisoning m for accepting humanitarian aid from Russia.

After meeting, Ukrainian Ambassor Sergiy Kyslytsya re a statement on behalf of 55 countries and European Union denouncing Russia for its “unprovoked full-scale and illegal invasion” and deploring its failure to comply with U.N. General Assembly resolutions calling for an immediate halt to its use of force against Ukraine.

With diplomats from many of countries standing alongside, statement re by Kyslytsa reaffirmed ir solidarity with Ukraine, condemned Russian missile strikes that have killed civilians and destroyed civilian buildings, and reiterated ir demand for an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of Russian forces.

Nebenzia was asked by a reporter if media would be back for a one-year anniversary.

“I’m no fortuneteller,” he replied.