Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the UN Security Council in person on Wednesday, his first appearance since Russia invaded his country in February.
Zelenskiy called for Russia to be stripped of its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council, accusing Moscow of using it to shield itself from accountability for its actions.
“Russia has used its veto power to avoid punishment for its crimes,” Zelenskiy said. “This is a violation of the spirit and the letter of the UN Charter.”
Zelenskiy’s speech came after Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia objected to Zelenskiy speaking at the start of the meeting. Nebenzia said that Zelenskiy’s participation would be a “provocation” and would undermine the work of the Security Council.
However, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who was presiding over the meeting, ruled that Zelenskiy would be allowed to speak. Rama said that it was important to hear from the victim of Russia’s aggression.
In his speech, Zelenskiy also accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine. He cited evidence of torture, rape, and the execution of civilians.
“Russia is a terrorist state,” Zelenskiy said. “It must be stopped.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who attended the meeting after Zelenskiy left, defended Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Lavrov said that Russia was conducting a “special military operation” to “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine.
Lavrov also accused the West of hypocrisy, saying that it had selectively enforced the UN Charter in the past.
The Security Council meeting was the first time that Zelenskiy and Lavrov had been in the same room since the start of the war.
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