Visit of the President of Ukraine and the First Lady to the United States of America
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Republic of South Africa in New York
On the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.
The two leaders discussed topical issues of cooperation between Ukraine and South Africa in continuation of their dialogue started during the meeting in Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of South Africa's participation in the working groups on the Ukrainian Peace Formula. The Presidents paid attention to preparations for the next meeting at the level of advisors on the implementation of the Formula.
"We are extremely grateful that the platform of our Peace Formula has actually started working. The Embassy of your country in Ukraine and Mr. Ambassador personally take part in the meetings on this issue," the Head of State noted.
The parties discussed preparations for the Global Peace Summit at the level of leaders.
The need to restore the functioning of the "grain corridor" in the Black Sea to ensure global food security, as well as to create grain hubs in Africa, was noted.
"We are not waiting, we are continuing the Black Sea Grain Initiative and trying alternative routes. Several ships with grain have already successfully passed through these routes despite the difficult situation," the President of Ukraine emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Cyril Ramaphosa also discussed the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Head of State emphasized the importance of speeding up the process of returning Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia to their homeland, as well as the exchange of detainees.
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President of Ukraine met with the President of Kenya in New York
On the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Republic of Kenya William Ruto.
The Head of State thanked Kenya for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
"Thank you for supporting our people and our country. I would like to invite you and your team to visit Ukraine at your convenience. We have many topics to discuss. Support in such a difficult time of war is important to us. We need to be strong and hear your voices of support," the President said.
The leaders discussed preparations for the next meeting on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula at the level of advisors.
The parties also discussed preparations for the Global Peace Summit at the level of state leaders.
Specific steps were discussed to establish grain hubs in Kenya. The Presidents emphasized the importance of stable supply of Ukrainian agricultural products to the region.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the President of Kenya about the functioning of an alternative route for the export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, as well as the work on creating other export routes.
The Heads of State discussed security cooperation between Ukraine and Kenya.
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President met with the President of the European Council in New York
On the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the European Council Charles Michel.
The leaders discussed the implementation of the European Commission's seven recommendations for Ukraine's membership in the EU.
The Head of State informed the President of the European Council about the situation on the battlefield. In this context, the parties emphasized the importance of the EU's defense support for Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Charles Michel discussed the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and preparations for the Global Peace Summit.
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As nukes are restrained, likewise the aggressor and all its methods of war must be restrained – Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his speech at the UN General Assembly
Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after Russian aggression no one in the world will dare to attack any nation. And weaponization must be restrained. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his speech during the General Debate of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“History shows it was Russia who deserved nuclear disarmament the most, back in the 1990s. And Russia deserves it now – terrorists have no right to hold nuclear weapons,” the Head of State emphasized.
At the same time, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, even without the use of nuclear weapons, the terrorist state weaponizes everything it has access to: food, energy, and even Ukrainian children from the occupied territories.
“While nukes remain in place, the mass destruction is gaining its momentum. The aggressor is weaponizing many other things and those things are used not only against our country but against all of yours as well,” the President said.
According to the Head of State, there are many conventions that restrict armaments, but there are no real restrictions on weaponization.
As an example of such a threat, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia's weaponization of nuclear energy.
“Not only is it spreading its unreliable nuclear-power-plant-construction-technologies, but it is also turning other countries’ power plants into real dirty bombs. Look please what Russia did to our Zaporizhzhia power plant – shelled it, occupied it and now blackmails others with radiation leaks. Is there any sense to reduce nuclear weapons when Russia is weaponizing nuclear power plants? Scary question,” the Head of State noted.
The President pointed out that the goal of the current Russian war against Ukraine is to turn our land, people and resources into a weapon against the rules-based international order.
“As nukes are restrained, likewise the aggressor must be restrained and all its tools and methods of war. Each war now can become final, but it takes our unity to make sure that aggression will not break in again,” the Head of State stressed.
He believes it is not a dialog between the so-called “great powers” somewhere behind the closed doors that can guarantee the new no-wars-era, but open work of all nations for peace.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that the Ukrainian Peace Formula envisages steps that will stop all forms of weaponization that Russia used against Ukraine and other countries and that may be used by other aggressors.
“While Russia is pushing the world to the final war, Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after Russian aggression no one in the world will dare to attack any nation. Weaponization must be restrained. War crimes must be punished. Deported people must come back home. And the occupier must return to their own land. We must be united to make it. And we will do it,” the President emphasized.
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In New York, Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the protection of people and cooperation in civil defense with Benjamin Netanyahu
In New York, where the 78th session of the UN General Assembly is taking place, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu.
The two leaders discussed in detail a number of important bilateral issues, including cooperation in civil defense and the protection of human lives.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed his interlocutor about the situation at the front and the air strikes, including those using Iranian-made drones, that Russia continues to carry out against peaceful Ukrainian cities, civilian facilities and port infrastructure. The President of Ukraine expressed concern over the increasingly close military cooperation between Russia and Iran.
The Head of State invited Israel to support the Ukrainian Peace Formula. In this context, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the preparation of the Global Peace Summit.
The parties also discussed cooperation within the UN and other international platforms.
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President of Ukraine met with the UN Secretary-General
In the framework of his participation in the General Debate of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The Head of State thanked the UN for the efforts to minimize the consequences of the full-scale Russian aggression and expressed hope for further active assistance from the Organization in the swift response to the pressing needs of the Ukrainian people in the humanitarian sphere.
The parties discussed the prospects for the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
The President thanked António Guterres for supporting Ukraine's efforts to ensure the stability of food markets and exports.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew the UN Secretary-General's attention to the use of Iranian drones by the aggressor state to attack Ukraine's port and agricultural infrastructure.