Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged world leaders on Wednesday to remain focused on his country's war with Russia despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
In a 20-minute address at the United Nations General Assembly , Zelensky told the global body that there was no alternative to the peace formula he presented two years ago, which calls for Russian forces to leave Ukraine and be held accountable for war crimes.
“Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve an out instead of an end to the war,” he said.
Zelensky also said he had received reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin was planning a nuclear attack on power plants in the country and claimed the effects could have far-reaching consequences.
"Putin seems to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and the infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid," he said, adding that Moscow was using satellites to gather images of Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure.
Russia occupies Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.
Zelensky said Moscow needed to feel the weight of the international community and encouraged the U.N. to "put pressure on the aggressor."
He also accused Russia of trying to bring back a brutish colonial past and called on China and Brazil to recognize Putin's motives rather than try to boost their own global standing by backing peace proposals that did not address what Russia is doing.
Zelensky had some harsh words for Iran and North Korea, calling them accomplices in the grinding war that has killed or wounded roughly 1 million people, according to an unofficial tally published by the Wall Street Journal.
Both countries have supplied Putin's army with ballistic missiles, attack drones, and artillery shells.
Zelensky said Putin's goal was to leave Ukrainians in the "cold and dark this winter," forcing them to suffer needlessly and surrender under the harsh conditions.
Zelensky added that he would use his time at the international gathering to meet with leaders from all corners of the world to convince them that they need to devote their attention to securing peace in Ukraine. He has already spoken to leaders from India, Italy, Guatemala, Paraguay, Turkey, Finland, Slovenia, Germany, and others.
"These are different parts of the world and have very different political ways of life, but they share the same understanding," he said. "Peace is needed, and it must be a real, just peace. Unfortunately, at the U.N., it's impossible to truly and fairly resolve matters of war and peace because too much depends in the Security Council on the veto power. When the aggressor exercises veto power, the U.N. is powerless to stop the war, but the peace formula can. Once again, there is no veto power in it. That's why it's the best opportunity for peace. Everyone is equal."
Zelensky's comments to the U.N. came one day after former President Donald Trump slammed him on the campaign trail and once again claimed he would end the war if he became president.
Trump made the comments after Zelensky told the New Yorker that “Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows.” Zelensky called Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), “too radical.”
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Trump has refused to say whether he wants to see Ukraine win the war, sticking to the talking point that he simply wants it to end. He has also been mum on how he would achieve peace in the region.
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, calling him “genius” and “savvy” for recognizing two Ukrainian territories as independent just before Russia’s invasion.
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