Zelenskyy calls for the end of Russia’s “devastating” war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday called on world leaders to end Russia’s “devastating” war against his country, in his address to the heads of G20 amid the Indonesia summit. 

He said in his online address that the time has come when Russia’s “destructive war” should be stopped, “it is possible and it will save thousands of lives”, but noted that the war must end “justly and on the basis of the UN Charter and international law”. 

“It is not worth offering Ukraine compromises with its conscience, sovereignty, territories and independence. We respect the rules and are people of our word. Ukraine has always been a leader in peace efforts and the world has seen it. If Russia says that it wants to end the war, it should prove it with actions,” said the President of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s proposals included radiation, nuclear, food and energy security, release of all war prisoners and deportees, implementation of the UN Charter and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and world order, withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and cessation of hostilities, return of justice, prevention of ecocide. 

A two-day summit of G20 was opened on the Indonesian island of Bali, one of the main topics of which is the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to participate in the summit. His press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters in Moscow on November 14 that “circumstances dictate that the presence of the president in the Russian Federation is a priority.” Peskov did not specify the “circumstances”.