Russia looks to block Zelensky video address at UN assembly

Source: The Hill | September 14, 2022 | Zach Schonfeld

Russia is expected to oppose a proposal for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to address the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly via a pre-recorded video, Reuters reported.

A spokesperson for Ukraine’s mission to the U.N. told The Hill that 38 countries have co-sponsored a draft decision to permit Zelensky’s video, and the General Assembly will consider the measure by the end of the week.

However, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said Moscow will seek to block the video address.

“Zelensky travels perfectly well around the country … but he can’t come here,” Russia’s ambassador to the U.N. told reporters, according to Reuters. “And if you can’t come, that means you send your representative to speak at the General Assembly.”

The United States granted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visa request to attend the meeting but approved only about half of the delegation Moscow desired, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

World leaders have addressed the General Assembly virtually for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic but are set to return in person for the annual gathering in New York City in the coming days.

Ukraine’s U.N. mission circulated a note to the 193 members of the General Assembly saying Zelensky cannot travel to New York due to the ongoing war, Reuters reported.

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