Zelensky tells world to stand against Russia 'genocide'
Russia using both energy and food as a way to pressure the world
20 September, 13:56
(ANSA-AFP) - UNITED NATIONS, SEP 20 - Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky in a wartime trip to the United Nations on
Tuesday urged the world to stand firm against Russia's
"genocide," as he tried to convince skeptical developing nations
they share a stake in Kyiv's victory. Taking the rostrum of the
UN General Assembly in his trademark military fatigues, Zelensky
renewed an invitation for world leaders to join a "peace summit"
to end the invasion. "For the first time in modern history, we
have the chance to end the aggression on the terms of the nation
which was attacked," Zelensky said in a speech met with applause
led by Western nations but many empty seats elsewhere. "This is
a real chance for every nation -- to ensure that aggression
against your state, if it happens, God forbid, will end not
because your land will be divided," he said, but with
sovereignty upheld. Zelensky lashed out at Russia for what
Ukraine says is the deportation of thousands of children. The
practice has led the International Criminal Court to issue a
warrant for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin of Russia,
which says it is taking war orphans into foster care. "Those
children in Russia are taught to hate Ukraine, and all ties with
their families are broken," Zelensky said, as Russia's deputy
ambassador to the United Nations sat without expression. "This
is clearly a genocide. When hatred is weaponized against one
nation, it never stops there," he said. He accused Russia of
using both energy and food as a way to pressure the world, after
Moscow ended a UN-backed agreement to let ships of grain sail
out of Ukraine. "The aggressor is weaponizing many other things,
and those things are used not only against our country but
against all of yours as well." (ANSA-AFP).