(Berlin) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded “just punishment” against Russia before the UN on Wednesday, strongly denouncing the invasion of his country by Russian troops and calling for the establishment of a special tribunal.
Updated yesterday at 7:28 p.m.
“A crime has been committed against Ukraine and we demand just punishment” against Russia, President Zelensky said while addressing the UN General Assembly via video message. Unable to travel to New York, the leader had obtained this exceptional authorization from the Member States of the United Nations.
In his speech, which ended with ovations and applause from the representatives present in the room, Mr. Zelensky launched a virulent diatribe against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.
“We will not let this entity prevail over us”, he launched, dressed as always in a khaki green T-shirt, and calling for the creation of a special tribunal to judge Russia “for its crime of aggression against our state.
He used the word “retribution” no less than fifteen times throughout his speech.
The Ukrainian president also called for the creation of a compensation fund for Ukraine and argued that Russia should be stripped of its right of veto in the UN Security Council.
Earlier, at the same UN rostrum, US President Joe Biden had accused Russia of having “brazenly violated” UN principles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier Wednesday said he “does not believe” in Moscow’s use of nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine, after Vladimir Putin waved the threat in a speech.
“I don’t believe these weapons will be used. I don’t think the world will let it happen, ”said the Ukrainian head of state according to extracts from this interview granted to Bild TV and whose remarks were transcribed by the popular German daily.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday a mobilization of 300,000 reservists in Russia to support his war effort in Ukraine, and threatened the West to use nuclear weapons.
“Tomorrow, Putin will be able to say: ‘we want a part of Poland in addition to Ukraine, otherwise we will use nuclear weapons’”, he continued.
“We cannot accept this kind of compromise”, Ukraine “will continue the offensive”, he declared, affirming to be “certain to release [nos] territories”.
The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Valery Zalouzhny, has promised to “destroy” the Russians who will go to Ukraine to fight, including those who will be mobilized after the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We will destroy all those who come to our territory with weapons in their hands – whether voluntarily or by mobilization”, wrote on Facebook Mr. Zaloujny, who rarely speaks in the media.
In this context, and while declaring himself “grateful” for the military support provided by Berlin, he called on German deputies to vote on Thursday in favor of the delivery of modern combat tanks which will save “more human lives”.
The German government has so far not responded to this pressing request from Kyiv, arguing that it does not want to act alone in this area and does not want to provide equipment with which Russia could be attacked.
Neither the United States nor France, for example, have so far supplied Western combat tanks to Ukraine, which is receiving Soviet-made tanks.
“You are an independent state. If you won’t give us these armaments, then no hard feelings […]. But don’t say the United States first, then Poland, etc. Everyone must take their own responsibilities, ”said Mr. Zelensky to the attention of the German executive.
Vladimir Putin “wants to drown Ukraine in blood, including that of its own soldiers”, also judged the head of state about the partial mobilization decreed by the Russian president.
“He needs an army of several million people who come to us, because he sees that a large part of those who arrive flee,” he added, in reference to defections in the army. Russian.
The Ukrainian president also described as “simulacrum” the annexation referendums planned from Friday by Russia in the occupied territories. “90% of states will not recognize them,” he added.
“There are still countries that haven’t understood that Putin has already lost the war,” he said.
But “he lost historically. Not only against Ukraine”, but against the whole world and democracy. “No one will forgive him,” he said.