On the eve of the anniversary of the attack by Russian troops on Ukraine, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned against an escalation of the conflict and the use of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Russia's ambassador to the UN accused Germany and the West of similar motives in the Ukraine conflict as in the Second World War. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi bid farewell to a class of young officers to complete their training in the war. On the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UN General Assembly is to adopt a resolution on Thursday calling for peace and Moscow's withdrawal. Russian President Vladimir Putin started the war on February 24, 2022.
UN General Assembly votes on Ukraine resolution
Before departing for the session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock campaigned on Thursday for approval of the United Nations resolution introduced by more than 50 states for an end to Russia's war of aggression. "The peace plan is on the table in New York, it is the Charter of the United Nations," said the Green politician. Baerbock wants to give a speech in the late afternoon German time before the General Assembly in New York. The vote on the resolution is scheduled for late evening (CET) after dozens of speeches by senior speakers.
Guterres warns against nuclear weapons
"Over the past year, we have not only seen suffering and devastation grow, it is becoming increasingly clear how much worse things could get," Guterres said at the opening of the UN General Assembly's special session marking the anniversary of the start of the war. The possible consequences of a spiral of conflict are a clear and present danger. "Meanwhile, we have heard implicit threats of the use of nuclear weapons. The so-called tactical use of nuclear weapons is absolutely unacceptable." It is high time to step back from the abyss.
Guterres denounced Moscow's actions as an "attack on our collective conscience." "The first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a dark milestone – for the Ukrainian people and for the international community," he said. "This invasion is an attack on our collective conscience."
Russia: 'The German tanks will kill Russians once again'
Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said in the special session of the UN General Assembly: "This is a war that, as it was 80 years ago, involves a treacherous and powerful enemy who wants to take over our country and subjugate us." The West wants to achieve the end of Russia. "The goal now is to arm Ukraine, thereby inflicting a strategic defeat on my country, dismembering it and destroying it," Nebenzya said. "The German tanks will once again kill Russians."
Zelenskyj bids farewell to military academy graduates for war
On Wednesday, Zelenskyj bid farewell to the graduates of military academies in Lviv and Odessa. "This is a special mission – to receive military training now and to know that this training will be needed tomorrow directly on the battlefield to defend the state and lead soldiers and units," Zelenskyi said in his nightly video address. No information was given on the number of young officers.