Russia Selenskyj: Must force Moscow to end the war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has called on his allies in the UN Security Council to work together to force an end to the Russian war of aggression.

Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin has "broken so many international laws and rules that he will not stop on his own. Russia can only be forced to make peace, and that is exactly what is needed," said Selenskyj at a meeting of the highest body of the United Nations in New York. He will also take the floor there today in the UN General Debate and attempt to mobilize political and military support for his country.

Meanwhile, bad news has come from home. Following a Russian airstrike with glide bombs on the city of Kharkiv, the number of victims had risen to at least 3 dead and 34 injured by Tuesday evening. The defenders are still under heavy pressure in the ground battles in eastern Ukraine. Russian troops are advancing on the city of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region and are threatening to encircle it. On Wednesday night, there was an air alert in the eastern half of Ukraine. According to the authorities, explosions were heard in the Sumy and Poltava regions and in the port city of Odessa.

Zelensky is working on a plan for victory

Zelensky used his appearance at the UN Security Council to prepare the diplomatic initiative that is the aim of his US trip. On Thursday, he wants to present a plan to outgoing US President Joe Biden on how to achieve a victory for Ukraine and a just peace. His possible successor Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are also to be briefed.

Russia is committing an international crime with the war, said Selenskyj. "That is why this war cannot simply disappear. That is why this war cannot be calmed down through talks." He added: "Action must be taken." He said he was "grateful to all nations that are really helping in a way that saves the lives of our people". While Zelensky was speaking, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia demonstratively leafed through his documents and looked at his cell phone. In his reply, Nebensja accused the Ukrainian president of destroying his own country and people.

Ukraine will not accept temporary occupation

The individual steps that Zelenskyi wants to propose are not yet known. However, they include the demand for Ukraine to join NATO, as Zelenskyi's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said during an appearance in New York. Another "obligatory point" is that Ukraine will not accept any temporary Russian occupation of its territories on the way to peace. This was announced by the Foreign Ministry in Kiev. Russia must withdraw completely from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. Russia occupies around a fifth of the neighboring country and claims at least five administrative regions in the southeast of the country and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed in 2014.

In military terms, Ukraine has been asking the USA for months to lift the restrictions on the use of supplied weapons up to several hundred kilometers deep into Russia. This is where ammunition depots, command posts and air bases are located, from which Russian fighter jets take off to bomb Ukraine. In Zelensky's considerations, the occupation of around 1000 square kilometers in the Russian region of Kursk by his army is likely to be a bargaining chip for the evacuation of Ukrainian territory.

Bomb hit on Kharkiv

The impact of several Russian glide bombs in the large eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv resulted in civilian casualties. "The targets of Russian bombs are a residential building, a bread factory, a stadium. In other words, the normal lives of ordinary people," Selenskyj wrote on Telegram. At least three people were killed. There were also 34 injured. Mayor Ihor Terekhov spoke of bomb attacks in four city districts and two damaged high-rise buildings. Kharkiv, a city of over a million inhabitants, is located just over 20 kilometers from the Russian border and is attacked almost daily by the Russian military with missiles and bombs.

Russia's 2025 budget geared towards war

Despite Western sanctions, Russia is focusing on high oil and gas revenues in its budget planning for 2025. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said in Moscow that state revenues should increase by 12 percent to 40.3 trillion roubles (around 390 billion euros). The energy sector's share of revenue would increase to almost three quarters. The expenditure side is expected to grow less strongly to 41.4 trillion roubles (around 400 billion euros). A deficit of 0.5 percent of gross domestic product is expected.

According to media reports, the future budget is also geared towards the war against Ukraine and large-scale arms production. The financial news agency Bloomberg reported from Moscow that 13.2 trillion roubles had been budgeted for the military. In total, 40 percent of all spending is earmarked for defense and security - more than the combined spending on education, health, social affairs and the economy in Russia.

This will be important today

Speakers at the UN General Debate in New York will include Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.

SDA