"Russia wants war": Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for peace and war crimes tribunal in speech to United Nations

United Nations — Speaking in English to the 193-nation United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a pre-recorded message to a standing ovation, with the exception of the Russian delegation and a handful of other countries, in the Hall filled with world leaders and his own wife, first lady Olena Zelenska.

Zelenskyy was unable to travel to U.N. Headquarters in New York City because of the escalation in attacks by Russia. Just hours earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a large mobilization of Russian forces for the attacks against Ukraine, and began preparations for a referendum to formalize its occupation of parts of Ukraine. The referendum is considered a sham by the U.S. and European Union.

Earlier this year, the U.N. decided that a leader must be in the headquarters in order to speak this year. But, the General Assembly voted 101-7 for an exception for Zelenskyy. The members that voted against him speaking were Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria.