Zelenskyy calls on broad alliance of nations to 'force Russia into peace'

In a forceful speech to the UN security council, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on a broad alliance of nations to "force Russia into peace", saying Vladimir Putin has violated the foundations of the United Nations and that the war "can't be conquered by talks" alone.

- Andrew Roth

Addressing the council, of which Russia is a permanent member, Zelenskyy accused Moscow of committing "international crimes" by targeting Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure, and claimed that he had proof that Putin is plotting to target three Ukrainian nuclear power plants to further degrade the country's energy grid.

After thanking Ukraine's allies for their support, the Ukrainian leader appealed to countries further afield, calling on Brazil and India, as well as countries across Africa and Latin America, to increase pressure on Russia to halt the war, saying: "All [countries] are equally important for peace without exceptions."

Many of those countries have economic or close diplomatic ties with Russia and have given greater credence to Putin's claims that Russia was provoked into the war by the west.