United Nations: Zelenskyj speaks at the UN, Baerbock calls for signs against Putin

For the first time since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will appear in person at the United Nations General Assembly today. At the start of the general debate, US President Joe Biden, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also speak.

Germany celebrates 50 years in the UN

The SPD politician celebrated 50 years of Germany in the United Nations yesterday evening at a reception in the UN building on New York’s East River. Despite all the conflicts around the world, he called for more international cooperation: “Even deep divides can be overcome if we work together with courage, creativity and an unshakable commitment to the principles of our United Nations.”

The Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR were simultaneously admitted to the United Nations in September 1973 in the middle of the Cold War. Numerous international guests attended the anniversary reception, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Polish President Andrzej Duda, EU Council President Charles Michel and several foreign ministers.

Zelenskyj with his wife Olena in New York

However, Biden and Zelenskyj were not at the ceremony. The Ukrainian president landed in New York yesterday with his wife Olena Zelenska. He has already taken part in several summits in recent months – G7, NATO, EU. Last year he was only present at the UN General Assembly via video.

His 15-minute speech (from around 6pm CEST) is expected to drum up support for the war against Russia, his conditions for peace and Kiev’s ideas for a war crimes tribunal.

Zelensky and Lavrov expected in the Security Council

On Wednesday, Zelensky will be the focus of a meeting of the 15-member UN Security Council. There he could meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the first time since Russia invaded his country. A conversation with Scholz is planned for the same day. This could be about the Ukrainian demand for Taurus cruise missiles. Scholz has so far expressed reservations about this

Zelensky’s first trip to the UN headquarters in New York since the outbreak of war is seen as an attempt to convince skeptical countries of his course. However, many states, especially in Latin America, Africa and Asia, would like greater attention to be paid to their problems and to the main topic actually targeted by the UN at the largest diplomatic meeting in the world: new cooperation on an equal footing between industrialized and developing countries.

Many of the heads of state and government of the so-called Global South want peace in Ukraine – this is prominently reflected in the mediation attempts of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who recently spoke of the war “tiring humanity”. From New York, Zelenskyj wants to travel on to Washington. Meetings with Biden and members of Congress are planned there on Thursday.

Baerbock: No “business as usual” in times of war

Before the general debate began, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) called for a strong signal from the global community against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Especially in these times when the Russian president is attacking not only the European peace order, but also the United Nations Charter, there can be no business as usual in the United Nations either,” said the Green politician yesterday. “Despite all the crises in the world, we must not only promote the Charter of the United Nations, but also stand up for it together.”