Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take the UN podium for the first time on Tuesday, attracting all the attention in a fragmented world shaken by serial crises, most notably Russia’s invasion of his country.
A year ago, he received exceptional authorization to intervene via video message. This time he will be there in person, for the high-level session of the annual United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday and a special meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday, before leaving for Washington, where he will be received at the White House on Thursday. .
“It is very important for us that our words, all our messages, are heard by our partners,” he said Monday while meeting with Ukrainian soldiers wounded on the front lines at a New York hospital.
“A concrete proposal” will be presented
“Ukraine will present a concrete proposal to UN Member States on how to strengthen the principle of territorial integrity and improve the UN’s ability to thwart and stop aggression,” he said.
Since the Russian invasion, an overwhelming majority of countries have adopted several resolutions in the UN General Assembly supporting Ukraine and its territorial integrity or calling for Russia’s withdrawal.
But after a year and a half of war and cascading impacts on the world, particularly on food security, certain countries in the South are advocating for a diplomatic solution.
“I am aware that for some leaders it is important to find a peaceful solution,” said European Council President Charles Michel. But “for this peace to be lasting, it must respect the principles” of the UN, he moderated.
Biden will also speak
In this context, the intervention of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s platform is expected. The Brazilian president will be the third speaker of the day, while Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to move to 14th position.
Unlike several Western powers, Brazil has never imposed financial sanctions on Russia or agreed to supply munitions to kyiv and is trying to position itself, like China and Indonesia, as a mediator.
As is tradition, the Brazilian will be the first head of state to speak. He will be followed, in particular, by the American president Joe Biden and the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is trying to revive the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea, or even the South African president.
Apart from the United States, no other permanent members of the Security Council (France, United Kingdom, China, Russia) will be represented at the highest level during this annual mass.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi will take the podium on Tuesday afternoon, as his country and the United States have just carried out a rare prisoner exchange, within the framework of an agreement that includes the transfer of $6 billion in funds to Tehran. frozen.
Source: BFM TV
