Wed Sep 25 06:23:05 UTC 2024: ## Zelenskyy Rejects Peace Deals, Calls for Russia’s Withdrawal in UN Address
**New York, NY** – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vehemently rejected any peace deals imposed by other countries, including those proposed by China and Brazil, to end Russia’s 31-month-long invasion. Speaking to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Zelenskyy asserted that Ukraine would never accept a settlement that compromises its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Instead, Zelenskyy reiterated his call for the adoption of his two-year-old proposal to restore Ukraine’s internationally recognized boundaries, which existed before Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. He emphasized that Russia’s current control over about a fifth of Ukrainian territory is unacceptable.
“We must uphold the UN Charter and guarantee our right — Ukraine’s right — to territorial integrity and sovereignty, just as we do for any other nation,” Zelenskyy stated. “We need to withdraw the Russian occupying forces, which will bring an end to the hostilities in Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy expressed skepticism towards China and Brazil’s efforts to broker peace talks, questioning their true motives. He pointed out that Russia’s propaganda has proven effective in certain regions, leading to a perceived need for alternative solutions. “Everyone must understand — you won’t boost your power at Ukraine’s expense,” Zelenskyy warned. “The world has already been through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are smaller.”
Zelenskyy also highlighted Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, aimed at weakening the country’s resolve during the approaching winter. “Since Russia can’t defeat our people’s resistance on the battlefield,” he said, “Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking “other ways to break the Ukrainian spirit.”
The Ukrainian president’s speech follows his address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, where he asserted that Putin would not stop hostilities on his own and could only be forced into peace. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged nations to continue supporting Ukraine, stating that ending aid would effectively lead to Ukraine’s demise.
Russia’s envoy to the UN dismissed these claims, maintaining that Moscow is not engaged in a war of territorial conquest but rather fighting against a “criminal regime” in Kyiv. The UN General Assembly meeting is also hosting a series of other world leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo.
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