Serhiy Kyslytsia, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, called on the world to help Ukraine, now paying the highest price for freedom and security for itself and the world, defending itself against the Russian army.
He stated this in his speech at the UN Security Council.
Now is the time to act. It is time to help Ukraine, which is now paying the highest price for freedom and security of itself and the world. If Ukraine does not survive, international peace will not survive. If Ukraine does not survive, the UN will not survive, have no illusions. "We will not be surprised if democracy falls next. But now we can save Ukraine, save the United Nations, save democracy and uphold the values we believe in and for which Ukrainians are now fighting and paying with their lives," Kyslytsia said.
He also noted that the Russian delegate would speak soon.
"Putin did his best to delegitimize Russia's presence at the UN. But I wonder if Russia's presence at the UN was ever legal? December 1991, January 1992 or ever? I wonder if this hall, this Assembly, voted in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 2, for Russia's admission to the UN.
I want to ask the delegates whose countries voted for Russia's admission to the UN: please raise your hand if your country voted in a formal session in response to Yeltsin's letter on 24 December 1991, when he told the UN that Russia would like to be a follower of the Soviet Union.
Nobody? Should I wear glasses? Maybe my eyesight fails me, and I don't see a single raised hand. Did nobody vote for Russian membership? I'll leave you with that. And think about it when you listen to the Russian delegate."
Earlier, President Vladimir Zelenskyy called on the western countries to deprive Russia of the right to vote in the UN Security Council. He also asked the organization to help bring the corpses of Russian soldiers home.
On 24 February, at about 5 am, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and sent troops to our country. He explained the offensive by the situation in Donbas, the UN Charter, the decision of the Federation Council and the agreements with the occupied territories of Ukraine. Putin also said that Russia could not "feel safe" and develop in conditions of the "constant threat posed by Ukraine".
On 26 February, Russia blocked a UN resolution condemning Russia's military attack on Ukraine.