Biden calls for war crimes trial, says Putin must be held accountable

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to speak before the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Mr. Zelensky has spoken to parliaments around the world in an effort to draw attention to Russia’s invasion of his country and seek arms transfers and sanctions against Moscow.

The Security Council, which has the power to impose global sanctions to address disputes, has not passed any resolutions on the current conflict due to the veto power of Russia, which has a permanent seat on the council. Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, was chairing the council in February when Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war.

Western diplomats have sought to isolate Russia in the Security Council and other international forums.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, former Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kiseltsya, was frequently invited to the council, where he clashed with Mr. Nebenzia, a veteran diplomat.

On Tuesday, the Russia representative will face a virtual appearance from Mr. Zelensky. Tuesday’s meeting is set to begin at 10am and is expected to include Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to UK spokesperson Mongo Woodfield.

The US ambassador, Linda Thomas Greenfield, said Monday in Romania that she will bring before the Security Council the alleged Russian attacks on civilians in the Ukrainian region of Kyiv.

In his nightly video address, Mr. Zelensky said that more than 300 people are believed to have been killed from Bucha alone.

“The list of victims will probably be much larger when the whole city is examined. And this is only one city.” In many villages of the liberated districts of the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions, the occupiers did things that the locals did not see even during the Nazi occupation 80 years ago. ”

Mr. Zelensky noted the anger expressed by Western leaders, but questioned why Ukraine was not providing the help it says it needs to fend off Russian forces. And if we had already got what we needed – all these planes, tanks, artillery, anti-missile and anti-ship weapons, we could have saved thousands of lives. I don’t blame you – I blame only the Russian army. But you could have helped. ”