Zelensky Warns World Leaders of Russia 'Weaponizing' Essentials to Dominate the World

(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addresses world leaders during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on September 19, 2023, in New York City. Dignitaries and their delegations from across the globe have descended on New York for the annual event. This year marks the 78th session of the General Debate at the UN Headquarters and will focus on the crisis of global warming.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York Tuesday (September 19), warning them of Russia's "weaponization" of everyday commodities, such as food and energy - two things the country has been heavily hit with since the beginning of the Russian invasion - saying that the Kremlin can replicate what they have done to his country to the rest of the world.

"The goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, our resources into a weapon against you, against the international rules-based order," Zelensky addressed delegates and other guests in English.

His remarks against Russia were among the most scathing in a series of addresses by world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who earlier said that if the world would allow Russia to "brutalize" Ukraine, the independence of any other nation in the world would be in jeopardy.

"If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?" Biden asked global delegates.

Biden was the only leader of the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council - which some call the Big Five - to attend the General Assembly.

Zelensky Urges World Leaders to Unite Against Russian Aggression, 'Weaponization'

During his speech, Zelensky called on world leaders to "act united to defeat the aggressor," which he identified as Russia.

Aside from weaponizing food and energy, he also called out the Kremlin for threatening nuclear war not only to Ukraine but to the world, which was met with thunderous applause.

"While Russia is pushing the world to the final war, Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after Russian aggression no one in the world will dare to attack any nation," he added. "Weaponization must be restrained, war crimes must be punished, deported people must come back home and the occupier must return to their own land. We must be united."

He also addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin's "weaponization" of Ukrainian children Kyiv claims to have been abducted in order to be russified.

"The International Criminal Court issued international arrest warrants to Putin for this crime," he continued, as quoted by the New York Post. "We are trying to get children back home but time goes by... what will happen to them?"