Today at 19:03
Dear Leaders!
Your Excellencies!
Today I want to tell you about a day that has already passed and a day that must never come.
On the night of March 4, 2022, I received one of the scariest messages since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The message said that Russian tanks were directly shelling the buildings of our Ukrainian nuclear power plant. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The largest in Europe. Six nuclear reactors. The Russian army attacked this facility as brutally as any other during this war, without thinking about the consequences, which could have been catastrophic. It was one of the scariest moments of the war, when no one knew what the outcome of Russian strikes on the nuclear facility would be, and every Ukrainian remembered what Chornobyl was.
At this moment, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains occupied by Russian troops. Unfortunately. And there is a threat of a nuclear accident. It is the largest source of radiation danger in Europe, and possibly in the world.
That is why the first point in the Peace Formula that I presented addresses nuclear safety.
In Ukraine, we know exactly what we are dealing with. And I want to thank you, members of the General Assembly, for adopting in July this year the resolution on the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. The majority of the world understands what is at stake. The General Assembly demanded that Russia return control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine. Only then will Europe and the world return to real nuclear safety.
And now about the day that must never come.
Unable to overcome the resistance of our people on the battlefield, Putin is looking for other ways to break the Ukrainian spirit. One of his methods is attacks on our energy infrastructure. These are deliberate Russian strikes on our power plants and the entire energy network. To date, Russia has destroyed all of our thermal power plants and a significant part of our hydroelectric capacities. This is how Putin is preparing for winter, hoping to torment millions, millions of Ukrainians. Ordinary families—women, children. Ordinary towns, ordinary villages. Putin wants to leave them in darkness and cold this winter, to force Ukraine to suffer and surrender. Just imagine, please, your country without 80% of its energy supply—such a large part of the energy system destroyed. What would your life be like?
Recently, I received another alarming message from our intelligence.
It seems that Putin really plans attacks on our nuclear power plants and their infrastructure to disconnect the stations from the power grid. Using satellites, by the way, ladies and gentlemen, satellites of other countries, Russia is obtaining images and detailed information about the infrastructure of our nuclear power plants.
But what does this really threaten?
Any missile or drone strike, any critical accident in the energy system can lead to a nuclear catastrophe.
And Moscow must understand this. And it depends, in particular, on your determination to pressure the aggressor. After all, these are nuclear power plants! They must be safe.
Two years ago, in the fall of 2022, I proposed a comprehensive strategy to end the war and ensure security. And I presented the Peace Formula on an extremely inclusive political platform for world leaders—the G20 summit in Indonesia, which represented billions of citizens from all corners of the world.
And it is important to us that all these people understand us—understand that Ukraine wants to end this war more than anyone else in the world.
War always poses a threat to many. You all see in the media and read in reports what is happening in Ukraine because of Russia’s war, and many imagine that it is happening to them. And yes, the smoke from fires in war-torn cities can reach other countries. And if, God forbid, Russia causes a nuclear catastrophe at one of our nuclear power plants, radiation will not respect state borders, and, unfortunately, different nations will feel its devastating effects. Many are concerned about this, but the deepest understanding of war is always in the homes it destroys.
It is the Ukrainian people who feel all the pain of this war. It is Ukrainian children who are learning to distinguish the sounds of different types of artillery and drones because of Russia’s war. It is our people who are forcibly separated by occupation because Putin decided he could do whatever he wants. It is our heroic soldiers who are sacrificing their lives to defend our country from invaders who are trying to steal our land. That is why we say, and not without reason: there can be no just peace without Ukraine.
And I thank every leader, every country that supports us in this, that understands us, that sees how Russia, a country more than 20 times larger than Ukraine by territory, still wants more land, which is madness, and is seizing it day by day, while striving to destroy its neighbor. And for this, Russia has found very special friends—North Korea and Iran. A very telling choice of friends. Now every neighbor of Russia in Europe and Central Asia feels that war could come to them too. And just think about what losses this would mean for the world.
And I thank almost one hundred countries and international organizations that have supported the Peace Formula. It is truly a global community: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, the Pacific region—all united by the Peace Formula.
And I am glad that the first Peace Summit was so reminiscent of the UN General Assembly—everyone was equal. All nations that participated in the Peace Summit—big and small—without veto rights, without blocking rights. Those who have been independent for centuries, and those who have only recently gained independence. Those who have gone through wars themselves, and those who are accustomed to peace. All. Everyone was equal—this is what Russia hates the most and cannot control, which is why Russia says the Peace Formula does not suit them.
Here at the UN, I have already met with leaders from India and Guatemala, Japan and Italy, Turkey and Finland, Canada and Paraguay, Slovenia, Germany, and others. And my meetings will continue. These are different parts of the world—absolutely—and different political systems, but they are united by a common understanding: peace is needed, and it must be real, just peace.
Unfortunately, at the UN, it is impossible to truly and justly resolve issues of war and peace because too much in the Security Council depends on the veto power. When the aggressor uses the veto, the UN is powerless to stop the war. But the Peace Formula can do this—again, there is no veto power in it. That is why it is the best opportunity for achieving peace—everyone is equal, and it is effective and comprehensive.
When someone proposes alternative, half-hearted settlement plans—the so-called series of principles—it not only neglects the interests and suffering of Ukrainians, who have been most affected by the war, it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin political space to continue the war and pressure the world to take control of more countries. Any parallel or alternative attempts to achieve peace are essentially attempts to achieve only a ceasefire, not an end to the war, because the global initiative—the Peace Formula—has been in place for two years. And maybe someone wants to win a Nobel Prize for their political biography for a frozen truce instead of real peace, but the only rewards Putin will give you in return are more suffering and disasters.
We need to restore nuclear safety.
Energy should not be used as a weapon.
We need to ensure food security.
We need to bring home all our prisoners of war and civilians forcibly deported to Russia.
We must adhere to the UN Charter and guarantee our right—Ukraine’s right—to territorial integrity and sovereignty, just as we do for any other nation.
We need to achieve the withdrawal of Russian occupiers, which will end the fighting in Ukraine.
We must hold accountable those responsible for war crimes.
We need to prevent ecocide and stop the destruction of nature caused by the war.
And we must prevent the second or third phase of this Russian invasion.
And we need to clearly state: the war is over.
This is the Peace Formula.
What from this can be unacceptable to those who adhere to the UN Charter?
If anyone in the world is looking for alternatives to any of these points or is trying to ignore any of them, it is most likely because they themselves want to do some of what Putin is doing: the point they ignore reveals the desire they are hiding.
And when the Chinese-Brazilian duet tries to turn into a chorus of voices—with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa—saying something alternative to complete and just peace, the question arises: what is the real interest?
Everyone must understand: you will not strengthen your power at the expense of Ukraine.
And the world has already gone through colonial wars and conspiracies of great powers at the expense of those who are smaller. Every country, including China, Brazil, European states, African countries, the Middle East, understands why this must remain in the past. And Ukrainians will never accept—will never accept—that someone in the world thinks that such a brutal colonial past, which today suits no one, can now be imposed on Ukraine instead of a normal, peaceful life.
I want peace for my people—real peace and just peace.
And I ask for your support—all the nations of the world. We do not divide the world.
I ask you the same: do not divide the world. Be united nations, and this will bring us peace.
Thank you.
Glory to Ukraine!
