By Canadian Press

Zelenskyy addresses UN meeting – on video from Ukraine

Sep 21, 2022 | 2:22 PM

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began a much-anticipated video speech to world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly Wednesday, hours after Russia announced it was calling up some reservists to further the war against Ukraine.

The war has dominated the global gathering, which comes nearly seven months after Russia launched what has become the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.

In a reflection of the circumstances, Zelenskyy wasn’t at the august rostrum where other presidents, prime ministers and monarchs speak at international diplomacy’s most prominent annual gathering. Instead, he got an exception to speak via video.

“A crime has been committed against Ukraine, and we demand just punishment,” Zelenskyy said as he began his remarks.

Russia hasn’t yet had its turn to speak at the gathering. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he sent his armed forces into Ukraine because of risks to his country’s security from what he considers a hostile government in Kyiv; to liberate Russians living in Ukraine — especially its eastern Donbas region — from what he views as the Ukrainian government’s oppression; and to restore what he considers to be Russia’s historical territorial claims on the country.

Skatepark refresh

Town of Ladysmith seeks public insight in reforming skateboard park

13h ago

stabbing

UPDATE: Two people stab City of Nanaimo employee with needles at Maffeo Sutton Park

16h ago

fly-in

VIDEO: 'It's so special to see these kids:' Santa makes pre-Christmas stop at Nanaimo hospital

17h ago

Putin’s decree Wednesday about the partial mobilization was sparse on details. Officials said as many as 300,000 reservists could be tapped.

It’s an apparent effort to seize momentum after a Ukrainian counteroffensive this month retook swaths of territory that Russians had held.

But the first such call-up in Russia since World War II also brings the fighting home in a new way for Russians and risks fanning domestic anxiety and antipathy toward the war. Shortly after Putin’s announcement, flights out of the country rapidly filled up as people scrambled to book one-way tickets and prices spiked.

A day earlier, Russian-controlled parts of eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans for referendums on becoming parts of Russia. Ukrainian leaders and their Western allies consider the votes illegitimate.

___

Associated Press journalist Andrew Katell contributed from New York.

___

For more AP coverage of the U.N. General Assembly, visit https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-general-assembly

Jennifer Peltz, The Associated Press