Full Text Of Zelensky's Speech At The UN Security Council

24.09.2025, 8:17
5,742

The Ukrainian president called for "to be an effective force".

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said during a speech at a high-level UN Security Council meeting that the time has come to be an effective force to force Russia to move toward peace.

NV quotes the full text of Zelensky's speech at the UN Security Council:

- Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General!

Honorable leaders, representatives of states and governments and all those who still follow the work of the United Nations.

We must admit: the world's attention to the UN is waning. The organization has less and less influence, and too often there is a lack of real solutions to fundamental issues.

This is what we should be talking about today - the tools that, unfortunately, do not work now. But they will work, I am sure they will work, if you act actively, if we act actively. The main tool is in your hands.

First of all, I thank the Republic of Korea for this meeting of the Security Council and for the opportunity to make a call for peace. There will be a clear call for peace in this Council today. And here is one of the great distortions of our time: who should we call for peace and who should we press to achieve it?

One of the permanent members of this Council is doing everything it can to continue the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War. Russia is doing this with impunity, using its veto power, buying influence and keeping the world in limbo. The Russian representative is there. But, of course, it is not the one who makes the real decisions. That person is afraid to sit down face to face with Ukraine and the world and openly admit it: he only wants war. Instead, Putin sends delegates who can't and won't stop the bloodshed. And when he shows up abroad - in Beijing, or elsewhere - it is only to buy time to kill and pretend to seek diplomacy.

Putin cares only about using every meeting, every chance to continue the war. Every day Russia kills our people, destroys our cities, and shows no sign that it will ever return to the principles of the UN Charter.

China is also represented here. A powerful country on which Russia is now totally dependent. If China really wanted to end this war, it could force Moscow to stop the invasion. Without China, Putin's Russia is nothing. But China too often stays silent and stays on the sidelines instead of acting actively for peace.

There is also the United States of America, a strong nation supporting our defense. We have said yes to every offer by the President of the United States to cease-fire and negotiate with Russia for peace, but Russia always says no or tries to confuse everyone to prevent even a cease-fire. And I just had a meeting with President Trump. And we talked about how to finally bring peace closer. And we discussed some good ideas, and hopefully they'll work. I'm grateful for that meeting. And we're counting on America's actions to push Russia toward peace. Moscow fears America and always counts with America.

There's Britain, a permanent member of the Security Council. Here we have France, also a permanent member. Both countries support us, support our people, our independence, both promote diplomacy. And both are parties to a document that should have been a positive step - along with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council - but instead became a warning to the world. The Budapest Memorandum, designed to guarantee Ukraine's security in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons, failed. It proved that international promises can turn into empty words. That is why today, together with the United Kingdom, France and more than 30 countries in our coalition of the willing, we are building a new security architecture. We count on the reliable support of the United States. Real security guarantees must be a border that Russia cannot cross again.

There is one example of how war can be stopped by force: if we can strengthen our airspace with a joint system to counter Russian missiles and drones, it will force Russia to stop its air attacks, because everything can be shot down. And then Putin will be forced to sit here or on some other respectable platform and seek a truce on the ground. If there is no war in the skies, Russia cannot continue to fight on the ground. I have spoken to President Trump and other leaders about this.

Why am I saying this here and now? Because you - the United States, China, Britain, France, the permanent members of the Security Council - represent a key global force, a force that must act when international law fails to do so. And no, not Russia. Russia has discredited itself with this war: even those who have not yet openly criticized Putin still feel that Russia's presence is not a good thing.

Your Excellencies!

Beyond every international institution there must be a real force capable of enforcing decisions. This applies to the Security Council and the UN as a whole. If you unite to end this war, even Russia will be forced to comply. And if some of you act and others delay, the war will continue.

Ukraine wants peace more than anyone else in the world. The front is on our soil. And we are mourning our people, and trying to save our cities and save our small villages. Russia ignores its dead, doesn't see its losses. But one day she will see, and she will hear. And it will happen when it sees your actions, when it hears your common call for peace.

This is my call to you today: be an effective force. Act together. Please. Unite at last to stop Russia's war.

And we know how to guarantee security. What is needed now is a strong push to get Russia to move toward peace.

Full Text Of Zelensky's Speech At The UN Security Council

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts

Interview

Opinion