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- 鈥淎ny parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve an out instead of an end to the war,鈥� Zelensky said
- 鈥淒o not divide the world. Be united nations,鈥� he implored
UNITED NATIONS: Ukraine鈥檚 president urged global leaders Wednesday to stand with his country and not seek 鈥渁n out鈥� instead of a 鈥渞eal, just peace鈥� more than two years into Russia鈥檚 war.
At a time when he faces growing pressure from Western allies and some of his fellow Ukrainians to negotiate a ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly there鈥檚 no alternative to the 鈥減eace formula鈥� he presented two years ago. Among other things, it seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine and accountability for war crimes.
鈥淎ny parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve an out instead of an end to the war,鈥� he said.
鈥淒o not divide the world. Be united nations,鈥� he implored. 鈥淎nd that will bring us peace.鈥�
Russia hasn鈥檛 yet had its turn to speak at the assembly鈥檚 annual gathering of presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and other high officials. Low-level Russian diplomats occupied the country鈥檚 seats in the huge assembly hall during Zelensky鈥檚 speech. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not attending this year鈥檚 high-level meetings at the General Assembly.
The war in Ukraine was center stage the last two times that world leaders convened for the UN鈥檚 signature annual meeting. But this year, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the escalating developments along the Israeli-Lebanese border have gotten much of the spotlight.
Ukraine and Russia, with one of the world鈥檚 most potent armies, are locked in a grinding fight along a 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.
The war began when Russia invaded in February 2022 and has killed tens of thousands of people. Russia has gained momentum in Ukraine鈥檚 east; Ukraine, meanwhile, startled Russia by sending troops across the border in a daring incursion last month.
Zelensky argued Tuesday at the UN Security Council that Russia needs to 鈥� be forced into peace,鈥� saying there鈥檚 no point in pursuing peace talks with Putin.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded Wednesday that the Ukrainian president鈥檚 call for compulsion was 鈥渁 fatal mistake鈥� and 鈥渁 profound misconception, which, of course, will inevitably have consequences for the Kyiv regime.鈥�
Zelensky is expected to present a victory plan this week to US President Joe Biden.