Russia

Day 208 Roundup: Ukraine to Top UN General Assembly Agenda, Zelenskyy Promises No 'Lull' in War Effort

SEP 17 2022·Updated SEP 27 2022

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Image credit: AP Photos [via AP News]

The Facts

Amid several global challenges, the war in Ukraine is set to dominate the agenda at this year's meeting of the UN's General Assembly, held annually in New York. While some heads of state were travelling for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, most are expected to return by Tuesday, when the general debate of the meeting kicks off.
The Associated Press
Last week, following an objection from Russia, the UN voted to allow a pre-recorded address from Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy to be shown to the assembly. Typical UN rules require that all speeches be delivered in person, although they've been delivered virtually for the last three years due to COVID.
ABC News
Ahead of the meeting, the UN's Sec. General António Guterres said: "The General Assembly is meeting at a time of great peril." Meanwhile, in his nightly address on Sunday, Zelenskyy promised there'd be no let-up in fighting to take back Ukrainian land. He said: "Perhaps some of you might think now that after a series of victories there is a certain lull. But this is not a lull. We are preparing for the next series of [liberated cities]."
Ukrainska Pravda
While shooting by a group of armed men was reported in the Russia-controlled city of Kherson on Sunday, further Ukrainian attacks were reported in the Russia-controlled city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia. There were no reports of civilian casualties in either attack.
Ukrainska Pravda
Russia, meanwhile, continued to launch attacks on civilian infrastructure such as power grids and hydroelectric plants over the weekend. Overnight, Russia allegedly struck the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (SUNPP) industrial complex in the Mykolaiv region, with shells reportedly landing 300m metres from nuclear reactors. Ukraine's state-owned energy company Energoatom said: "Currently, all three power units of the SUNPP are operating normally."
Ukrainska Pravda
Russian attacks were also reported elsewhere in Sumy, where one person was reported killed, as well as in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk. In Kharkiv, two people were reported injured, while six others were reportedly injured on mines left by Russia following Ukraine's counteroffensive. In Donetsk, Ukrainian officials said three civilians were killed and eight were injured in Russian shelling. Pro-Russia separatists said five civilians were killed and three others were injured in Ukrainian shelling.
Ukrainska Pravda

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The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February demonstrated just how toothless and impotent the UN has become. Its system is too weak to take deterrent action, and has become an instrument of manipulation by powerful states. Before it can have a positive impact, it needs thorough and comprehensive reform.

The Financial Express

Pro-establishment narrative

There are certainly some flaws within the UN that the invasion of Ukraine has exposed, but other features of its system have retained their usefulness. The charter provided Ukraine with an irrefutable legal standard of aggression that became the basis for international support, while Guterres has added his voice and prestige to condemnations of the Kremlin. The UN has provided a forum of acknowledged international legitimacy - through this, nations have denounced Russian aggression.

wapo

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 5% chance that Putin and Zelenskyy will meet to discuss the peaceful resolution of the Russian-Ukraine conflict before 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.