Ukraine urges world not to seek ‘lull’ in Russia’s war instead of peace

Ukrainian president singles out China, Brazil for pushing what he called ‘half-hearted settlement plans’.

Ukraine’s president has urged global leaders to stand with his country and not seek “a lull” instead of a “real, just peace” more than two years into Russia’s war.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered the message during an address to the UN General Assembly in New York Wednesday, rallying support for his 2022 “peace formula” that demands the expulsion of Russian forces from Ukraine and justice for war crimes.

“Any parallel or alternative attempts to seek peace are, in fact, efforts to achieve a lull instead of an end to the war,” Zelenskyy told the UN body more than 31 months into the blistering war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of casualties.

Zelenskyy also singled out China and Brazil for pushing what he called “half-hearted settlement plans”, accusing them of playing to their own interests “at Ukraine’s expense”.

On Friday, representatives of 20 UN states are set to discuss a six-point peace plan drafted by China and Brazil as an alternative to Zelenskyy’s proposal. The plan calls for non-escalation, a boost in humanitarian assistance, efforts to stop nuclear proliferation and an international conference backed by both Russia and Ukraine.