Many topics were raised in the nearly three days of speeches by world leaders at this year’s United Nations General Assembly, but beyond climate change, one pressing issue appears to have been widely condemned: Russia’s war in Ukraine.
As more than 80 world leaders addressed the gathering at the U.N. headquarters in New York City by Thursday afternoon, many spoke negatively about Moscow’s stalled military operations in neighboring Ukraine. Many have either called Russia by name, pointed to unspecified world conflicts or the UN’s inability to confront Moscow or its leaders.
In his speech on Wednesday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Russia had brought “an old-style colonial war” back to Europe. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová accused the Russian armed forces of war crimes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Russia is attacked by the Albanian Prime Minister after the failed attempt to prevent Ukrainian President Zelensky from contacting us
US President Joe Biden speaks at the general debate of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
“For more than 570 days, Russian forces have been killing innocent Ukrainian civilians, kidnapping children and destroying cities,” she said.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Moscow’s “aggression is a direct violation of the United Nations Charter, to which we all profess by helping Ukraine.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
“It has exacerbated all these crises of different kinds, destroying not only thousands of lives, but also the optimism that we can build back better,” Bulgarian President Rumen Radevn said.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics was even clearer: “Russia must bear full legal and financial responsibility for its aggression,” he said. “We must ensure full accountability for all crimes committed in Ukraine. This means Russia’s responsibility as a state for violations of international law.”
Why it is important for us to continue our support for Ukraine
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters in New York City on Tuesday. Many world leaders condemned Russia for its military action against Ukraine at the event, which lasted several days. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
On Tuesday, President Biden asked: “If we allow Ukraine to be divided, is the independence of a nation secured?”
Leaders from Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Uruguay, the Czech Republic and many other countries also took part in the war. Many said the conflict had strained regional stability and affected diplomatic relations between nations.
Russia received almost universal condemnation for its February 2022 invasion. It is estimated that thousands have been killed on both sides since fighting began.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in New York to address the U.N. Security Council, where he advocated for international help for his country in fending off Russian forces. He also addressed the General Assembly.
He accused Russia of using food and energy as a weapon for kidnapped children in the war against his country.
“When hatred is used as a weapon against a nation, it never stops,” he said. “The goal of the current war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, our resources into weapons against you – against the international rules-based order.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock addressed the United Nations General Assembly on February 23 ahead of a vote on a UN resolution upholding Ukraine’s territorial integrity and calling for a cessation of hostilities following Russia’s invasion. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
On Wednesday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama criticized Russia for attempts to prevent Zelensky from speaking at the UN Security Council. He pointed out that the notice of speaking powers had been given in advance and any objections should have been raised beforehand.
Russian troops have been withdrawing from the Norwegian border since the start of the Ukraine war: officially
“I want to assure our Russian colleagues and everyone here that this is not a special operation by the Albanian presidency,” Rama said, referring to Moscow’s formulation of its invasion of Ukraine.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
In response, Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s UN ambassador, said Albania had put its “political and ideological beliefs above the council’s commitments.”
“I have to say, judging from all these lectures about rule-breaking in this building, it’s quite an impressive show,” Rama replied. “But to the extent that you often repeat that the violation here is that President Zelensky speaks to the Council members, there is a solution to this. If you agree, end the war and President Zelensky will not speak.”
Russia is scheduled to take the podium at the General Assembly on Saturday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia arrives on Tuesday for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defense,” Zelensky said. “Supporting Ukraine in this exercise with weapons, imposing sanctions and exerting comprehensive pressure on the aggressor, as well as voting for relevant resolutions, would mean contributing to the defense of the UN Charter.”
The United States has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, but it has faced stiffer resistance than many expected. Russia’s armed forces were described as demoralized as reports of faulty equipment and a lack of essential supplies affected their ability to conquer the neighboring country.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report.