Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a bold and direct condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine during his address at the UN Security Council. He called the invasion a criminal and unprovoked aggression aimed at seizing Ukraine's territory and resources. Zelensky urged the UN to take action by stripping Russia of its veto power on the Security Council, stating that this power in the hands of the aggressor has led to a deadlock in resolving the war. Zelensky argued that Russia's veto power rightfully belonged to the former Soviet Union, not President Vladimir Putin's Russia.

He accused Russia of occupying the seat illegally and manipulating the system to whitewash their aggression and genocide. While acknowledging the difficulty of taking away Russia's veto power, Zelensky pointed to precedent, such as the General Assembly transferring China's veto-wielding seat from Taiwan to the mainland government. The tensions between Ukraine and Russia were evident even before Zelensky's speech, with Russia questioning the decision to let him speak first.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia expressed concerns about allowing Zelensky, a former comedian, to turn the Security Council into a one-man stand-up show. In response, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama suggested that Russia should stop the war, and Zelensky would not need to address the Council. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized Russia's invasion, highlighting the violations of the UN Charter and international law. He emphasized the geopolitical tensions, regional instability, and nuclear threat caused by Russia's actions.

While Zelensky received applause and support from Western nations, some developing nations have been critical of the attention given to Ukraine. However, Zelensky argued that supporting Ukraine is in the world's interest, as Russia is weaponizing food and energy and creating deep fissures in the increasingly multipolar world. The article also mentioned the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Security Council. Lavrov dismissed the idea of ending Russia's veto power and portrayed it as a check on Western power.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who had previously warned against the invasion, accused Russia of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The article highlighted the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who rarely attends high-profile diplomatic gatherings, as Western nations seek to isolate him and due to his facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Zelensky's address at the UN General Assembly and his upcoming meeting with US President Joe Biden demonstrate his efforts to gain international support and seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict with Russia.