New York - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a journey to New York to personally address the United Nations General Assembly, marking his first appearance since Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Wearing his iconic khaki green shirt, he called upon member states to unite against Russian aggression and emphasized the importance of achieving a peace agreement that recognizes Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Below, you can find the complete text of Zelenskyy's speech from September 19.

Zelenskyy emphasizes a message to UN delegates in New York:

"I extend my warm welcome to all those who advocate for collective efforts! I assure you that by truly coming together, we can secure a just and equitable peace for all nations. Furthermore, unity has the power to avert conflicts.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Secretary-General! Esteemed leaders!

Throughout its history, this hall has witnessed many conflicts, but it has not always been a resolute defender against acts of aggression. In numerous instances, the fear of war, particularly the ultimate war that would render this General Assembly Hall empty, has been the predominant concern.

The specter of a Third World War has loomed as a nuclear conflict, a showdown between nations armed with nuclear capabilities. Other conflicts, by comparison, have appeared less ominous in the shadow of the potential for so-called 'great powers' unleashing their nuclear arsenals.

Hence, the 20th century imparted a vital lesson to the world: the imperative to exercise restraint in the utilization of weapons of mass destruction – refraining from their deployment, proliferation, threats, and testing, while concurrently advocating for complete nuclear disarmament.

In all honesty, this approach has proven to be a prudent strategy.

Nevertheless, it must not be the sole strategy for safeguarding our world against the cataclysmic prospect of a final war."