PRESS RELEASE : Russia must be held accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, the corresponding resolution will be submitted for consideration by the 77th session of the UN General Assembly – Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 August 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a speech at the UN Security Council meeting dedicated to maintaining peace and security in Ukraine and called on the participants to hold Russia accountable for the crime of aggression against our country.

He told the members of the UN Security Council that today, as a result of a Russian missile attack on the Chaplyne railway station in the Dnipropetrovsk region, four passenger cars caught fire, at least 15 people died and about 50 were wounded.

“Rescuers are working. But, unfortunately, the number of dead may still increase. This is how we live every day. This is how Russia prepared for this meeting of the UN Security Council,” the President noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that today the Russian Federation has put the world on the brink of a radiation disaster, as the Russian troops have made the territory of the ZNPP – the largest nuclear power plant in Europe – a combat zone.

“Because of Russia’s armed provocations, because of shelling, because of the deployment of terrorists under the Russian flag on the territory of the plant. Now all of Europe and all neighboring regions are under the threat of radiation pollution,” he said.

The President insists that the IAEA mission must take permanent control of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as soon as possible, and Russia must unconditionally stop nuclear blackmail and completely leave the plant.

In addition, the Head of State drew the attention of the members of the UN Security Council to the fact that in the XXI century we have to fight artificial famine in various countries provoked by Russia’s aggression.

“I am thankful to the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, and Türkiye, Mr. President, as well as all other conscientious subjects of international relations who are fighting against the food crisis, which only Russia is responsible for. And in the coming weeks, we must do everything to expand the existing grain export initiative,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed.

He also noted that the Russian Federation is deliberately trying to provoke an energy crisis and deprive tens of millions of people of normal access to basic goods by raising energy prices.

“Energy crisis for Europe, threat of large-scale famine, political chaos for African and Asian countries, price crisis for the whole world. Isn’t too much allowed to one state, whose representative is sitting among you?” the President addressed the participants of the meeting.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the Russian invaders killed thousands of Ukrainians and destroyed dozens of our cities with artillery. Russia does not adhere to basic conventions regarding prisoners of war.

“The deliberate murder by the Russian occupiers of our prisoners of war in Olenivka became one of the most dreadful pages in the history of Europe. And there is an urgent need for a UN fact-finding mission to Olenivka, whose mandate should be extended to all Ukrainian prisoners of war currently held by Russian forces,” he urged.

The Head of State emphasized: if Russia is not stopped now by the victory of Ukraine, all Russian murderers will inevitably end up in other countries as well.

“And we must all unite and act as resolutely as possible so that there are no more traces of Russian missiles and cities burned by Russian artillery anywhere else,” he said.

According to the President, so that there is never again the threat of a radiation disaster, Russia must leave the captured territory of Ukraine.

“So that there is never a food crisis again, Russia must leave our land and our sea. So that no country in the world can ever again disregard the UN Charter and conventions binding on all mankind, Russia must be held accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” the President emphasized.

“The relevant resolution will be submitted for consideration by the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. In order for a sense of justice to return to international relations, we must all confirm and force Russia to recognize that the inviolability of borders and peace are unconditional values for all nations,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.

The President supported the ambitious intention of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to organize the Summit of the Future next year. According to him, it will be very symbolic if this event takes place in Ukraine, as the future of the world is being decided on the territory of our country.

“In order to build the future, it is necessary to leave in the trashbox of history what has always prevented humanity from living in peace, namely aggression and colonial ambitions. That is, what Russia came to Ukraine with. And I believe that we will really be able to build the future,” the Head of State noted, adding that the issue of security of the whole free world is being decided at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, in our seaports, in Donbas and in Crimea.

“Our independence is your security,” the President summed up.

This is Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s third speech at the UN Security Council since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia. The participation of the President of Ukraine in this meeting was endorsed by 13 out of 15 delegations to the Security Council.