War in Ukraine: Russia’s deportation of thousands of children is “genocide,” Zelensky accused

A year ago, during the same meeting, he was able to speak on video. This time, President Vladimir Zelensky personally delivered a brutal diatribe at the UN on Tuesday against Moscow, which is accused of “genocide” in Ukraine, while his American counterpart Joe Biden called on all countries to “stand against Russian aggression.”

Russia’s deportation of “tens of thousands” of Ukrainian children is “clear genocide,” he charged at the UN General Assembly in New York, and also condemned Russia’s use of food and nuclear energy “as weapons.”

“Terrorists have no right to own nuclear weapons,” he said, inviting world leaders opposed to Russian aggression to help him prepare a “peace summit.” Zelensky received a long ovation as he entered the enclosure, in front of Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, who was present at the Russian table.

In the morning, US President Joe Biden criticized Russia for “believing that the world will tire of it and allow it to mistreat Ukraine without consequences.” “If we allow Ukraine to be dismembered, will the independence of nations still be guaranteed? The answer is no,” he insisted to applause from the Ukrainian president and the public. The latter will take part in a special meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday and travel to Washington, where he will be received at the White House on Thursday.

Peace and dialogue mentioned by Lula and Erdogan

Following the Russian invasion, the vast majority of countries passed several resolutions at the UN General Assembly supporting Ukraine and its territorial integrity or calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops. But after a year and a half of war that has had cascading effects on the world, especially on food security, some countries in the South are pushing for a diplomatic solution.

“We will intensify our efforts to end the war through diplomacy and dialogue on the basis of the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasizing that “there will be no winners in a war, and no losers in peace.”

In Ukraine, “no solution will be lasting unless it is based on dialogue,” insisted Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is due to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday. “A lot has been invested in weapons and very little in development,” he complained.

Unlike some Western powers, Brazil has never imposed financial sanctions on Russia or agreed to supply arms to Kyiv, and the country is trying to position itself, like China, as a mediator. “I recognize that for some leaders it is important to find a peaceful solution,” European Council President Charles Michel said on Monday. But “for this peace to be lasting, it must respect the principles” of the UN, he said.

Apart from the United States, no other permanent member of the Security Council (France, Great Britain, China, Russia) is represented at the highest level. An absence that some diplomats consider a bad sign for the UN.