Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday as he sought unity in fighting brewing adversities.
Zelensky urged the nearly 200 world leaders inside the U.N. General Assembly Hall at the United Nations headquarters to unify against Russia and warned the threat of Russia’s nuclear weapons “is even greater.”
Terrorists have no right to hold nuclear weapons. No right!” Zelensky said in a 20-minute speech.
“Once more, unity can prevent wars,” Zelensky added, as he urged a complete nuclear disarmament. “It is a good strategy, but it should not be the only strategy to protect the world from the final war.”
“The aggressor is weaponizing many other things and those things are used not only against our country, but against all of yours, as well.”
“Many times the world has witnessed Russia using energy as a weapon. The Kremlin weaponized oil and gas to weaken the leaders of other countries when they came to the Red Square. And now this threat is even greater,” Zelensky said.
“Russia is weaponizing nuclear energy. Not only it is spreading its unreliable nuclear power plant construction technologies, but it is also turning other countries’ power plants into real dirty bombs,” Zelensky warned.
“Is there any sense to reduce nuclear weapons when Russia is weaponizing nuclear power plants? Scary question,” Zelensky said, before turning to Russia’s weaponization of food.
“Since the start of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea have been blocked by Russia,” Zelensky said. “And it is clear Russia’s attempt to weaponize the food shortage on the global market.”
“Russia is launching the food prices as weapons. The impact extends from the Atlantic coast of Africa to Southeast Asia,” he said, as he thanked leaders for their support of Ukraine’s Black Sea Grain Initiative.
“We are working to ensure food stability and I know that many of you will join us in these efforts. We launched a temporary sea export corridor from our ports and we are working hard to preserve our land routes for grain exports,” Zelensky added.
