Highlights: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to New York for the UN General Assembly. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would like to hold "peace talks" in the Ukraine war – despite resistance. More than 140 heads of state and government are expected to attend next Monday. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to arrive. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the war is underway – and in Russia the fear of defeat is circulating.. Status: 14/09/2023, 15:17 p.m.
Status: 14/09/2023, 15:17 p.m.
By: Kilian Beck
CommentsShare
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky want to convince the United Nations. © Thibault Camus/AP/dpa
Zelensky personally travels to the UN General Assembly in New York. The UN Secretary-General would like to hold "peace talks" in the Ukraine war – despite resistance.
Kyiv/New York – Now he's trying it in person: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to New York for the UN General Assembly. This is reported by the US portal Politico, which was able to talk to Ukrainian officials about the president's plans. The last time he spoke to the UN – via video – Zelensky called for a "just punishment" of Russia.
More than 140 heads of state and government are expected to attend the UN General Assembly in New York starting next Monday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will also attend. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to arrive. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Ukraine war is underway – and in Russia the fear of defeat is circulating.
"Special diplomatic operation": Lavrov and Zelensky could clash
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed on Wednesday that he would talk to Zelensky: "I would like to have a way to have peace talks – but I think we are far from that." Observers therefore call the trip "Zelensky's special diplomatic operation".
Next Wednesday, 20 September, the UN Security Council will meet. Zelensky and Lavrov could meet there. As Zelensky's opponent, Lavrov will try to keep as many countries as possible – especially those of the global South – on Russia's side or relatively neutral. Most recently, 141 of the 193 member states condemned Putin's war of aggression. However, only a few outside the Western alliance system support economic sanctions.
Diplomat doubts Zelensky's chances
According to Politico, Zelensky has two goals: to convince as many states as possible of the toughest possible economic sanctions against Russia. And: to enforce a Ukrainian solution to the food crisis in the global South. Russia had recently let the so-called grain agreement expire. This ensured that grain freighters were granted free passage across the Black Sea despite the war. Zelensky wants to achieve his goals by convincing heads of state in one-on-one talks. A diplomat from Liberia is quoted as saying: "Just because we are in New York does not mean that he (Zelensky) will achieve a different result than he has in the last two years."
Especially in the food crisis and the Black Sea question, something could get moving next week. The African states have already tried to negotiate with Russia's President Putin, and Turkish President Erdogan has also tried. Both failed. This is where the very large framework of the UN General Assembly could help. This will last from Wednesday, September 20 to Saturday, September 23.
Zelenskyy heading to New York to court the rest of the world
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addresses U.N. Security Council
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy addressed the U.N. Security Council as the war continues in Ukraine.
- The message didn’t appear to make much difference in the calculations of countries such as India, South Africa and Brazil, which continue to say they want peace but aren’t willing to endanger their ties to Moscow.
- But as the war has dragged on and strained the global economy, Zelenskyy appears to have decided that showing up in person can help make Ukraine’s case that it still needs support.
- In December, he visited Washington and appealed to Congress to keep money and weapons flowing.
- In May, he swung by the meeting of the Group of Seven in Japan to see the leaders of some of the world’s most economically powerful governments.
- Russia, which officially refers to the conflict in Ukraine as a “special military operation” and not a war, has shown no serious interest in peace talks and it has dismissed Kyiv’s demands. . .
- It’s possible that a special U.N. Security Council session about Ukraine will be held during this year’s gathering and that Zelenskyy will attend, said a Western diplomat familiar with the General Assembly planning who was granted anonymity because discussions are still ongoing.
(The Ukrainian official declined to comment on that possibility or give details about the number of meetings Zelenskyy hopes to have or the size of his entourage.)
- U.S. officials wouldn’t say whether President Joe Biden would attend such a special Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
.jfif)
No comments:
Post a Comment