Zelenskiy Takes The (World) Stage
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s speech before the United Nations General Assembly today may end up being one of the most important speeches of his wartime presidency. RFE/RL is live-blogging before, during, and after his speech, with context and analysis from our Ukrainian, Russian, and English-speaking correspondents.
If you’re a Ukrainian speaker (or reader), follow RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service for more in-depth coverage. And in Russian, get reports and analysis from RFE/RL’s Russian Service and Current Time, the Russian-language TV and digital network run by RFE/RL.
What Do Ukrainians Expect From Zelenskiy's 'Victory Plan'?
Zelenskiy is set to present his plan for victory in the war against Russia to U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to the United States this week. On September 19, RFE/RL asked people in two Ukrainian cities what they think the path to peace might look like:
- By Todd Prince
WASHINGTON -- While today’s speech before scores of world leaders is of paramount importance for the Ukrainian leader, there’s another event happening tomorrow that is as important, if not more so: a trip to the White House.
Zelenskiy is expected to make a hard pitch to President Joe Biden that he loosen restrictions on what Russian targets Ukraine’s military can hit -- and where.
Read more about Zelenskiy’s entire trip to the United States, and what he’s hoping to accomplish here.
ZAPORIZHZHYA, Ukraine -- Hours before Zelenskiy was due to speak, Russia launched another aerial attack on the central city of Zaporizhzhya, injuring at least seven people and causing widespread damage.
Olena, who lives across the street from one of the buildings that was hit, told RFE/RL she felt lucky: “My child was just doing his homework in front of the window and I just grabbed him. Thank God, at least we’re alive,” she said.
It was the third night in a row that Zaporizhzhya was hit by Russian missiles, specifically KAB guided glide bombs, which are retrofitted Soviet-era weapons that Russia has deployed heavily in eastern Ukraine.
PRAGUE -- Comments earlier this week by Czech President Petr Pavel, a former senior NATO general and vocal ally of Ukraine, not only raised eyebrows but did not go over well in Kyiv.
Speaking to The New York Times, Pavel said that the “most probable outcome" of the war “will be that a part of Ukrainian territory will be under Russian occupation temporarily.” But he added that the “temporary thing” could last years.
In reaction, a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry statement said, “We emphasize that there can be no middle-ground solutions when it comes to human lives, freedom, common values, justice for Russia’s crimes, and the restoration of international peace and security.”
While in the U.S., Zelenskiy is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and is also hoping to meet with top congressional leaders.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, however, seemed to rule out such a meeting, telling reporters on September 24, “I don’t think we are actually going to be in town on Thursday. We have our schedule changed on the floor. So, it’s very fluid.”
So far, a meeting between Zelenskiy and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has not been confirmed as well.
KYIV -- "Russia is trying very hard to convince the world that the countries of the Global South are ready to turn a blind eye to unprovoked Russian aggression,” Oleksandra Matviychuk, head of a Ukrainian human rights group that was a co-winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, told RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service.
Matviychuk, who leads the Center for Civil Liberties, helped spearhead a call for Russia’s suspension from the General Assembly. She sent a letter with the request, signed by over 20 former Latin American foreign ministers, as well as rights activist from Ukraine and Latin America, to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The appeal is “of great importance,” she said. “In November, a meeting of the G20 will be held in Brazil. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin specifically made a visit to Mongolia to set a precedent when a country party to the Rome Statute violates its obligations regarding his arrest. So this appeal to the UN secretary-general demonstrates that this time it will not be so easy for Putin to pull the same trick."
Putin's trip to Mongolia earlier this month was his first visit to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it issued an arrest warrant for the Russian president in March 2023. The warrant is related to the illegal repatriation and relocation of children from areas of Ukraine seized by Russia following Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Zelenskiy has already spoken at the United Nations this week, addressing the Security Council on September 24.
In that speech, Zelenskiy stressed that “Russia can only be forced into peace,” adding: “Russia is committing an international crime.”
He also urged that Russia’s invasion of his country not be overshadowed by conflicts elsewhere, including the war in Gaza. “This war can’t simply fade away; this war can’t be calmed by talks. Actions are needed,” Zelenskiy said.
Among other speakers at the UN Security Council on September 24 was Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, who accused Russia of “kidnapping” children from Ukraine and sending them to Russia, noting President Vladimir Putin was facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court just for that.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Russia was trying to “return to the world of the past. A world of imperialism…” Lammy also said that “as a Black man whose ancestors were taken in chains from Africa and whose ancestors fought in a great rebellion of the enslaved, that he recognized imperialism: “I know it when I see it. And I will call it out for what it is.”
Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu stressed that the war is undermining the security of the wider Black Sea area and challenging neighboring states’ stability.
Ahead of the Zelenskiy speech, there was more bad news for the Ukrainian military from the front line in eastern Ukraine.
Ivan Tymochko, head of Ukraine's Council of Reservists, told RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service that Russia's invading forces were advancing on the frontline town of Vuhledar. "The Russian Army is trying to advance on the flanks, where they simply found an opportunity,” Tymochko said.
Asked about a possible Ukrainian troop withdrawal from Vuhledar, Tymochko said that would be considered if the city is destroyed. “If it is completely destroyed, if the urban structure is in ruins and there will be no possibility to build a high-quality defense, then perhaps the troops will be withdrawn,” he said.