Russia weaponising food, energy and children in war against Ukraine, says Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has taken the UN to task for allowing Russia, its invader, a seat at the table. He has rallied citizens at home and appeared before international bodies to plead Ukraine's case. At the UN, he lamented that the UN was "a retired superhero" and urged world leaders to stand up to Russia's "naked aggression". He also met with wounded Ukrainian service members and awarded them medals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told world leaders on September 19 that Russia is “weaponising” everything from food and energy to abducted children in its war against Ukraine.

While the world has various agreements that restrict arms themselves, “There are no real restrictions on weaponisation,” he said at the UN General Assembly's annual top-level meeting.

Mr. Zelenskyy took to the world stage at a sensitive point in his country's campaign to maintain international support for its fight. Nearly 19 months after Moscow launched a full-scale invasion, Ukrainian forces are three months into a counteroffensive that has not gone as fast or as well as initially hoped.

Ukraine and its allies cast the country's cause as a battle for the rule of international law, for the sovereignty of every country with a powerful and potentially expansionist neighbour, and for the stability of global food, fuel and other supplies that have been rocked by the war. The commodity upheaval has triggered inflation and caused serious hardships for poor countries.

“We must stand up to this naked aggression today and deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow,” U.S. President Joe Biden told the assembly on September 19 in his own speech. As he pledged support to Ukraine, there was a round of applause, and the UN cameras showed Mr. Zelenskyy, sitting in Ukraine's seat in the General Assembly, clapping his hands.

Russia insists its war is justified, claiming that it is defending Russian speakers in Ukraine from a hostile government and Russian interests against NATO encroachment, and more.

The war has raged longer and losses have been greater than Russia hoped, and the fighting has spurred widespread international condemnation and sanctions against Moscow.