Zelenskyy brands Putin 'patient zero' of war at UNGA — SkimNews
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- Zelenskyy told the UN General Assembly Russia lost 248,000 soldiers over eight months while capturing only ~1,000 sq km of Ukrainian territory, labeling Putin 'patient zero' of the war and urging world leaders to choke Russia's war revenues through trade restrictions
- Warning Ukrainians face a harsh winter with intensified Russian bombing ahead, Zelenskyy pledged to 'make it harsh for Russia too' and claimed nationals of 47 countries fight alongside Moscow — questioning why Koreans should die in Ukraine after Kyiv sent two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea
- Ukraine launched its deepest-ever strike into Russia this month, targeting Arctic gas condensate facilities 3,000 km from its border; a separate Sunday attack forced a Moscow oil refinery to halt crude processing
- Trump signed a sweeping bipartisan Russia sanctions package last week while separately pushing for an 'energy ceasefire' and blaming the war for skyrocketing US fuel prices
- At the UN Security Council, Lavrov said Russia is prepared to negotiate lasting peace but won't simply 'pause' the war, while Rubio countered that both sides have expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain shipments and energy infrastructure
Why it matters: Zelenskyy's UNGA appeal lands as both Russia and Ukraine signal openness to narrow ceasefires on grain and energy infrastructure, but disagree on broader terms — Lavrov demands lasting peace while Zelenskyy insists on continued economic strangulation, meaning any near-term deal likely targets specific economic sectors rather than ending the war.
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