Russia’s War Against Ukraine Will End Because the UN Charter Will Work – Speech by the President of Ukraine at the High Level Meeting of the UN Security Council

24 September 2024 – 23:26

Your Excellencies,

One day in this hall it will surely be said that Russia’s war against Ukraine has ended – not frozen, not paused, not forgotten. Truly ended.

And this will happen not because someone got tired of the war. Not because someone traded something with Putin.

Russia’s war against Ukraine will end because the UN Charter will work. It must work. Our Ukrainian right to self-defense must prevail. Our cooperation with nations of the world who value life as we do. Our territorial integrity. Our sovereignty, the independence of our country. We are defending what every nation would surely want to protect for itself. And what the UN Charter grants to all.

And it is Russia that always has to lie to justify its war. Not us. Russia cannot refer to the UN Charter to explain what it is doing against us, against Ukraine, Ukrainian people. In fact, in Russia’s perverted way, in its crooked world, it does refer to the Charter – but that’s simply insane.

Russia stayed silent because it couldn’t explain why a Russian missile recently struck a grain ship bound for an Egyptian port through the Black Sea. Russia either stays silent or lies about why its drones and missiles are found in the airspace of Poland, Moldova, Romania. Every day, Ukrainians are wounded and killed. Every day. Today, once again Russian bombs hit residential buildings. Even an ordinary bread factory became a target. What’s so threatening to Russia about making bread? Putin has no answer. And Russia never has an honest answer when asked why its army kills children in Ukraine, “defeats” schools and hospitals, and fights not for justice, but for a blackout for a neighboring nation. Putin has nothing to say if you ask him why he tries to drag Belarus into the war, why his propagandists threaten nations in the Caucasus or Central Asia, or why Russia invests the most not in human development, but in hatred. Russia has no legitimate reason – none at all – for making Iran and North Korea de-facto accomplices in its criminal war in Europe, with their weapons killing us, killing Ukrainians and helping Putin steal our land from our people.

We know – some in the world want to talk to Putin. We know it. To meet, to talk, to speak. But what could they possibly hear from him? That he’s upset because we’re exercising our right to defend our people? Or that he wants to keep the war and terror going just so no one thinks he was wrong? It’s insane too.

From the very first second of this war, Russia has been doing things that cannot possibly be justified under the UN Charter. Every destroyed Ukrainian city, every burned village, and there are already hundreds and hundreds, serves as proof that Russia is committing an international crime. And that’s why this war can’t simply “fade away.” That’s why this war can’t be calmed by talks. Action is needed. And I am grateful to all the nations that are truly helping, in ways that save the lives of our people.

Putin has broken so many international norms and rules that he won’t stop on his own. Russia can only be forced into peace. And that is exactly what’s needed – forcing Russia into peace as the sole aggressor in this war, the sole violator of the UN Charter.

Now, as we near the third winter of this war, Russia is once again trying to destroy our energy system, and this fall, they’re being even more cynical. They’re preparing to target our nuclear power plants, three of them – we have this information, and we have proof of this. If Russia is ready to go that far, it means – nothing you value matters to Moscow. This kind of Russian cynicism will keep striking if it’s given any room in the world.

The UN Charter leaves no room for that. And that’s why the Peace Formula leaves no room either.

In 2022, in the midst of the war, when I proposed the Peace Formula, I was proposing to uphold the UN Charter – to make effective everything that this institution was created for. Every point of the Peace Formula is rooted in the principles and purposes and norms of the UN Charter – in the rights it grants nations, and in the resolutions of the General Assembly that have already been supported by the majority of nations.

And we do not have different versions of the UN Charter for different parts of the world. We do not have regional “quasi-charters”. There is no separate UN Charter for BRICS or for the G7. There is no separate Russian-Iranian UN Charter, or no separate Chinese-Brazilian UN Charter. There is one UN Charter, which unites everyone – must unite everyone. The path to a just peace is the same – clear steps that everyone understands equally, and this is reflected in the Peace Formula. It is the fulfillment of the UN Charter. And we all know what needs to be done if we honestly look at the situation and truly want to stop Russia’s war. And most importantly – act. Together, of course. Of course, in unity. Without creating new and unnecessary divisions of the world into blocs or regional groups. Unity always works for peace.

We have to prepare the second Peace Summit to end the war. All together. And I invite all of you – all principled nations – to join us in this process. All who truly respect the UN Charter.

We invite China. We invite Brazil. I have already invited India. We are working with African nations, with all of Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, the Pacific region, North America. All are equally important for peace. All. Without exceptions. Just as the UN Charter must work without exceptions. This is the process that will lead us to peace. To a just peace. A real peace. A peace that will last. All of us already know how to achieve it. We have the Peace Formula. We have the UN Charter. And we have all the strength needed to make it happen.

What’s needed – is determination.

Thank you so much.

Glory to Ukraine!

Washington, DC:

🚨🇺🇸🇺🇦 “The US believes Ukraine will need at least $500 million worth of PDA per month through FY 2025, according to a senior administration official.”

This is half of what they need just for defensive operations, and clearly the Biden Admin won’t even give them that much. They… https://t.co/qfB92Em5eU

— Colby Badhwar 🇨🇦🇬🇧 (@ColbyBadhwar) September 23, 2024

🚨🇺🇸🇺🇦 “The US believes Ukraine will need at least $500 million worth of PDA per month through FY 2025, according to a senior administration official.”

This is half of what they need just for defensive operations, and clearly the Biden Admin won’t even give them that much. They are doing the “cupboard is bare” routine, claiming that stocks are empty and they can’t send Ukraine much of anything.

Beyond absurd.

Kirby says @POTUS ‘committed to supporting Ukraine completely and fully.’

“I think you’ll hear more about this when he has a chance to meet with President Zelensky on Thursday”

— Alex Raufoglu (@ralakbar) September 24, 2024

There are three options here. The first is that the Biden administration is really bad at this. The second is that despite their public statements they really don’t care if Ukraine actually gets the aid. The third is a combination of the two. At this point, given that this has happened over and over and over again, it really doesn’t matter. The reality is that they’re strategically incompetent.

Not that Germany is doing much better:

Scholz’s “personal conviction”..Russia can use long range missiles from North Korea & Iran against Ukraine, but Ukraine can’t fire back.

Weak, weak, weak. Free Europe pays the price for short-term domestic politics. https://t.co/lXIjGH6fW1

— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) September 24, 2024

Chancellor “No thoughts, only vibes” Scholz.

Lithuania:

Lithuania is helping to fix Ukraine’s power network. We’re even sending a whole power station.
I reminded the G7+ that Ukraine needs air defence and permission to destroy sources of attacks on infrastructure, because we can’t make power stations faster than Russia makes bombs. pic.twitter.com/WbMWZDy9Pv

— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) September 23, 2024

Denmark:

“The one most important red line has been crossed already, and that was when the Russians entered Ukraine,” – PM of Denmark Mette Frederiksen.

“My suggestion is, let us end the discussion about lines and let us not delay with what the Ukrainians need not only to protect… pic.twitter.com/TXr74Msome

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) September 23, 2024

“The one most important red line has been crossed already, and that was when the Russians entered Ukraine,” – PM of Denmark Mette Frederiksen.

“My suggestion is, let us end the discussion about lines and let us not delay with what the Ukrainians need not only to protect themselves but also to push Russia back,” @Statsmin added.

Prime Minister also emphasized that Russia’s war in Ukraine is not a European, but a global conflict, as Moscow is waging it with the help of China, as well as getting closer to Iran and DPRK.

Denmark is the world’s largest donor to Ukraine relative to the size of its economy, having allocated some 1.8% of GDP in bilateral support, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

Thankful to the people and government of Denmark for your unwavering support! 🇩🇰🇺🇦

https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-23/ukraine-use-of-weapons-in-russia-should-be-loosened-denmark-pm-frederiksen-says

Japan:

Japan fires flares for the first time after russian plane violates airspace Yomiuri Shimbun.

Today a russian Il-38 plane violated Japanese airspace three times over Rebun Island in northern Hokkaido Prefecture.

Japan is 1000x braver than NATO. pic.twitter.com/V8eBGi52hi

— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) September 23, 2024

I don’t think that the West understands what a crisis is currently growing in the Ukrainian infantry.

It is unlikely that there is an understanding that delaying permission to strike deep into Russia is a deepening of this crisis.

A war of such intensity cannot be waged by the…

— Stanislav Aseyev (@AseyevStanislav) September 24, 2024

I don’t think that the West understands what a crisis is currently growing in the Ukrainian infantry.

It is unlikely that there is an understanding that delaying permission to strike deep into Russia is a deepening of this crisis.

A war of such intensity cannot be waged by the same people.
I received my two wounds two months apart. If you are in the infantry, then 5-7 months of fighting is a guarantee of at least a concussion, at most – disability or death.

No amount of missiles will solve this crisis (unfortunately, the Ukrainian government still doesn’t understand this), but fundamental decisions by the US can at least not prolong the crisis.

Unfortunately, the situation on the frontline is dire in many areas. These tiring efforts to portray a rosy picture, suggesting that the AFU will soon be in Crimea, are hindering honest discussions and urgent calls for help. Zelensky is correct to seek binding security guarantees…

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 24, 2024

Unfortunately, the situation on the frontline is dire in many areas. These tiring efforts to portray a rosy picture, suggesting that the AFU will soon be in Crimea, are hindering honest discussions and urgent calls for help. Zelensky is correct to seek binding security guarantees as strong as Article 5 because Ukraine is going to lose the war unless there are radical changes in how this war is approached

Read thishttps://t.co/o228l2ivq1

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 24, 2024

Here’s the full text of the quoted tweet:

President Zelensky is seeking security guarantees as part of Ukraine’s ongoing effort to join NATO. While few expect this request to result in a positive answer, the reality is that Ukraine urgently needs security assurances to end the war and ensure its survival. This isn’t mere rhetoric to grab your attention – it’s an invitation to an honest discussion about why Zelensky is pushing for a new security framework – and why it must be taken seriously.

Some of these points may echo earlier discussions, but they need to be repeated to understand the full picture. No matter how optimistic some portray the situation, or talk about great Ukraine after the victory, it doesn’t resolve the problem. Admitting the problem and discussing it is the first step to a solution.

Let’s take a hard look at the potential consequences if Ukraine freezes the conflict without securing firm guarantees.

First, consider the economic and demographic problems of post-war Ukraine. The country has lost ~18% of its territory, including important agricultural and industrial regions in the south and east. Even in areas under Ukrainian control near the frontline, land remains unsafe due to extensive minefields. Sea ports like Mariupol and Berdyansk are occupied, and large industrial facilities, akin to Azovstal are destroyed.

Demographically, the situation is even worse. Before the war, Ukraine already faced one of the worst population trends in Europe. The Ptoukha Institute for Demography estimates that only around 29 million people lived in government-controlled areas at the start of 2024 – which is down from 45 million before the 2014 Russian invasion and Crimea’s annexation.

The war has accelerated the exodus of younger Ukrainians, particularly women and children, leaving behind an aging population. Adding to this, hundreds of thousands of veterans will return home, many of whom will require physical and psychological support. Managing this social, economic, and political burden without security guarantees would be a monumental task for any state forced to have high military spending, let alone Ukraine, with GDP per capita almost 5 times less than Greece. Additionally, without firm security guarantees and a concrete long-term plan, the likelihood of people returning from abroad remains slim.

Lack of guarantees will multiply the factor of instability, with fears of another Russian invasion driving more citizens to flee once borders fully reopen. The resulting uncertainty would deter post-war investments, as high-security risks and social instability would create an unattractive environment for any serious economic engagement.

Politically, Ukraine will also enter a period of uncertainty and risks. While Zelensky remains a unifying figure in wartime, internal tensions, which are often invisible to the Western audience are mounting, creating an increasingly toxic political atmosphere. A stalled war, millions displaced, lost territories, and a crippled economy hardly set the stage for calm and easy elections. As Ukraine enters a period of intense political competition, accusations of military failures are likely to dominate the discourse. It will be a test of Ukraine’s ability to preserve national unity across political lines.

Some argue that immigration could help address the problem, but what exactly would draw immigrants to Ukraine, where the average monthly salary is between $500 and $700, in a country ravaged by post-war problems and facing the constant threat of another Russian invasion? Especially when far more attractive opportunities are available within the EU.

Many Western partners assure Ukraine that aid will ensure that it won’t happen, but how reliable are these statements, given the history of similar statements akin to “Will support Ukraine as long as it takes” in today’s realities? Democracies operate on election cycles, and promises of long-term support can quickly become an object of shifting political winds. As elections approach, Ukraine could find itself a target of political debate, with opposition asking why their nations should prioritize foreign aid over pressing domestic issues like healthcare, education, or economic problems. In such an environment, the commitment to Ukraine is unstable and can’t be trusted.

The same applies to military aid for Ukraine. While Russia will keep rebuilding its forces, Ukraine will primarily depend on its own, much smaller domestic production and increasingly uncertain Western support, which will use peace as an excuse to diminish its aid

Russia, despite facing similar challenges, holds a significant advantage by being larger in most metrics, allowing it to better absorb these problems. Its vast resources, particularly oil and gas, offer economic leverage to soften the post-war problems. Moreover, Russia is likely to see some sanctions bypassed thanks to inconsistent enforcement. Under these conditions, it may only be a matter of time before Russia rebuilds a force large enough to deliver a decisive blow to Ukraine. Meanwhile, democratic Ukraine, without solid security guarantees, faces a far bleaker scenario.

Current peace proposals essentially send the same message: no guarantees for Ukraine, but a demand to cede territory and abandon aspirations of joining the Western alliance. In other words, nearly 30 million people are being sacrificed because the West is too weak and unwilling to make bold, risky decisions that could shape a better future.

Kharkiv:

Kharkiv today.

Yet another Russian air bomb crashed a large residential building sector.

Such things happen almost every day, and this will continue as long as Ukraine has no weapons to fight back and stop Russian large-scale bombing campaigns on its civilian population and… pic.twitter.com/Dw3ROGhO58

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 24, 2024

Kharkiv today.

Yet another Russian air bomb crashed a large residential building sector.

Such things happen almost every day, and this will continue as long as Ukraine has no weapons to fight back and stop Russian large-scale bombing campaigns on its civilian population and infrastructure.

But let me guess, professional virtue signallers on “X” are absolutely out of ducks to give when it comes to the actual consequences of what they so eagerly pay lip service to.

Does anyone here think Russia is paying any attention to the strong concerns and condemnations voiced at the UN General Assembly while launching this particulary brutal and massive attack on Kharkiv? pic.twitter.com/73WJpv5WN9

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 24, 2024

According to the Mayor of Kharkiv, the apartment building targeted by a russian aerial bomb in the Kyivskyi district had already been damaged earlier in the war. It was almost fully repaired, with new windows, insulation, and ready for the heating season. Now, it lies in ruins. pic.twitter.com/kKf00lAMPc

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) September 24, 2024

One person was killed and eight injured in a Russian attack on a bakery in Kharkiv, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the regional military administration. pic.twitter.com/DgNOj25mff

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) September 24, 2024

Picture this: It’s a normal weekday, and you’re working, minding your own business. Suddenly, without any warning, you hear an explosion that shakes the buildings and sets off car alarms outside.

You would probably head to a shelter if you were farther from the launch sites on… pic.twitter.com/lV27zpywqb

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) September 24, 2024

Picture this: It’s a normal weekday, and you’re working, minding your own business. Suddenly, without any warning, you hear an explosion that shakes the buildings and sets off car alarms outside.

You would probably head to a shelter if you were farther from the launch sites on russian territory, but you are in Kharkiv, very close to russia. The bombing has already started, so you only have seconds before the next explosion.

You can’t use the elevator during a bombing, and the staircase with windows on each floor probably isn’t the best idea either. So, you quickly dash to a corridor or bathroom—somewhere without windows.

There you sit and count the explosions, unable to do anything else. First, second (that sounded like it was near your parents’ house—please, no), third, fourth, fifth (this one was so close, your building shook a bit), sixth (“Hello, Mom, are you OK?”), seventh…

After long minutes of silence, you dare to step out of your almost-shelter. By this time, you know there are victims; local channels are buzzing with news. But you are supposed to get back to your day. To somehow keep working, go buy your family dinner, get back home and cook it, and just be the person your family relies on.

People in Kharkiv don’t need to imagine. It’s how our days go, one by one, every day. Today we survived, and they didn’t; we got lucky. But what about tomorrow?

Fuck off you fucking sick russian fucks‼️

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) September 24, 2024

I’m Adam L. Silverman and I approve this message!

Vuhledar:

It’s clear that the situation in Vuhledar is critical, and we are likely witnessing the final stages of its defense, which has lasted nearly 3 years. I can only hope that the right orders have been given, prioritizing the lives of soldiers over any desire to hold the ground

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 24, 2024

russia doing this to Ukrainian cities while people are enraged by zelensky signing an artillery shell https://t.co/spGGOlBQ2C

— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz) September 24, 2024

Ukrainian analysts at Deep State write that Russian forces are “erasing” Vuhledar.

“The situation around the city is critical and continues to get more complicated.”The Russians “are trying to surround the town while at the same time razing it to the ground with artillery,… https://t.co/2YtDugp3nF pic.twitter.com/qWASYaIo0b

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) September 24, 2024

Ukrainian analysts at Deep State write that Russian forces are “erasing” Vuhledar.

“The situation around the city is critical and continues to get more complicated.”The Russians “are trying to surround the town while at the same time razing it to the ground with artillery, glide bombs, etc.”

“To hold on until the last [soldiers] means to put ruins above the price of our military, which is unacceptable.”

Vuhledar is a longtime bulwark. But it might be close to falling. The exhausted but tough as nails 72nd brigade still fighting there, as I wrote in my in my @FT dispatch published yesterday: https://on.ft.com/47zTkzU

Pokrovsk:

Drones have proven to be a game-changer in this war.
🇺🇦 drone pilots detect and destroy the enemy in the Pokrovsk direction.

📹: 47th Mechanized Brigade pic.twitter.com/TvgO5S4R5o

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 24, 2024

Vovchansk:

Ukraine’s military intelligence special task forces have successfully secured the remains of the Vovchansk Machinery Plant, at which Russian troops had been isolated for a long time amid fierce hostilities in the city.

Very impressive footage for history. pic.twitter.com/fcSzgMmgV8

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 24, 2024

Kyiv:

All-clear just sounded in Kyiv city – alert was on for 15 minutes. Air alert in surrounding Kyiv Oblast still on.

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) September 24, 2024

Monitors: “At 14:28, an air target identified as a Yak-130 aircraft entered our airspace from Belarus but stayed there for just 5 minutes.”

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) September 24, 2024

Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russia:

/2. Debris of the Russian Orion UAV and the crash site in Taganrog. pic.twitter.com/ltq3qFlwEY

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 24, 2024

/4. It’s not the first time Orion crashes in Taganrog during the war. Another publicly known case was in the summer of 2023. https://t.co/5swFeGtoJG

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 24, 2024

I know some of you are still looking for places to make contributions to support Ukraine. Here’s one:

Guys, there’s a good opportunity to help a charity project for Ukrainian veterans.

My friend @vsheredeha and his spouse @Jabbermikkey are raising funds to operate and develop a recently launched veteran care department at the historical Pavlov Mental Health Hospital in Kyiv… pic.twitter.com/YL2Qysb3yq

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 24, 2024

Guys, there’s a good opportunity to help a charity project for Ukrainian veterans.

My friend @vsheredeha and his spouse @Jabbermikkey are raising funds to operate and develop a recently launched veteran care department at the historical Pavlov Mental Health Hospital in Kyiv (established in 1786!)

The guys recently renovated very old, unused premises provided by the hospital administration, launched a group therapy room, and are repairing a swimming pool.

(Check out the news story by @nahornyjtwi about their work below).

It’s all for the recovery of our soldiers whose souls were badly traumatized by war.

The guys always need generous donations to keep this project running and progressing. If you’re interested, follow them — they regularly report on their activities.

You can help them, too, no matter where you are in the world. It would be good for your everyday karma, a contribution to helping Ukrainian combat veterans return to a fulfilling life at home.

Here’s how you can help:

PayPal: [email protected]
MonoBanka (should work with most banking cards worldwide): https://send.monobank.ua/jar/3Rv1Ettypb

Thank you all in advance!!

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets or videos today.

Here is another one of his cartoon episodes that I haven’t posted before.

Open thread!