‘Russia should pay for this war’: Volodymyr Zelensky demands ‘just punishment’ for invasion of Ukraine as he speaks remotely at the UN: Wife attends in person after spotted out in New York City

• Speaking to the assembly by video-broadcast from Ukraine, Zelensky demanded a compensation fund from Russia, saying the nation should ‘pay for this war with its own assets’
• During the speech Zelensky called 15 times for ‘punishment’ of Russia over its invasion while laying out what he called his conditions for peace
• Sporting his signature green military t-shirt, Zelensky received a rare standing ovation in the General Assembly, which has returned in person after two years of pandemic restrictions
• Though Zelensky did not attend in person, his wife, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, was in attendance at the assembly after being seen on the streets of New York City before the speech 

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that the world punish Russia in a dramatic address to the UN General Assembly Wednesday, saying Russia should be forced to pay for Ukraine’s war expenses.

Speaking to the assembly by video-broadcast, Zelensky demanded a compensation fund and said Russia ‘should pay for this war with its own assets.’

During the speech Zelensky called 15 times for ‘punishment’ of Russia over its invasion while laying out what he called his conditions for peace,

‘Ukraine demands punishment for trying to steal our territory. Punishment for the murders of thousands of people. Punishment for tortures and humiliations of women and men,’ Zelensky said in English in the pre-recorded video.

Sporting his signature green military t-shirt, Zelensky received a rare standing ovation in the General Assembly, which has returned in person after two years of pandemic restrictions.

Though Zelensky did not attend in person, his wife, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, was in attendance at the assembly after being seen on the streets of New York City before the speech.

Olena looked super chic in a black pantsuit as her husband said Ukraine would prevail in repelling Russia’s attack.

Her blazer sported a wide white lapel, and she wore a pair of bright high-heeled pumps to match.

Olena – wearing her wavy blonde hair in a side part – could seen stoically listening as her husband called for a special tribunal to hold Russia accountable, which he said would be a ‘signal to all would-be aggressors.’

Sporting his signature green military t-shirt, Zelensky received a rare standing ovation in the General Assembly, which has returned in person after two years of pandemic restrictions

Though Zelensky did not attend in person, his wife, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, was in attendance at the assembly after being seen on the streets of New York City before the speech

Speaking to the assembly by video-broadcast from Ukraine, Zelensky demanded a compensation fund from Russia, saying the nation should ‘pay for this war with its own assets’ 

Zelensky’s address came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin mobilized reservists and made a veiled threat to use nuclear weapons. 

Zelensky did not discuss the mobilization in detail during his speech, but he suggested any Russian talk of negotiations is only a delaying tactic, and that Moscow’s actions speak louder than its words.

‘They talk about the talks but announce military mobilization. They talk about the talks but announce pseudo-referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine,’ he said.

‘Russia is afraid of real negotiations and does not want to fulfill any fair international obligations. It lies to everyone – as is typical for aggressors, for terrorists.’

Olena looked super chic in a black pantsuit as her husband said Ukraine would prevail in repelling Russia’s attack

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska’s blazer sported a wide white lapel, and she wore a pair of bright high-heeled pumps to match it

Olena – wearing her wavy blonde hair in a side part – could seen stoically listening as her husband called for a special tribunal to hold Russia accountable, which he said would be a ‘signal to all would-be aggressors’

Putin’s partial mobilization decree was sparse on details. Officials said as many as 300,000 reservists could be tapped. 

It was apparently an effort to seize momentum after a Ukrainian counteroffensive this month retook swaths of territory that Russians had held.      

But the first such call-up in Russia since World War Two also brings the fighting home in a new way for Russians and risks fanning domestic anxiety and antipathy toward the war.

Shortly after Putin’s announcement, flights out of the country rapidly filled up, and hundreds of people were arrested at anti-war demonstrations across the country.

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska deftly avoids a downed coffee cup on the streets of New York City before attending her husband’s address at the United Nations 

Olena Zelenska was seen on the streets of New York City before she attended the UN general assembly to hear her husband speak

Other world leaders also joined Zelensky in rebuking Russia on Wednesday, including US President Joe Biden and French president Emmanuel Macron.

‘Russia has shamelessly violated the core tenets of the United Nations Charter,’ Biden told the General Assembly.

‘Let us speak plainly. A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded its neighbor – attempted to erase the sovereign state from the map.’  

President Macron, speaking on the sidelines of the General Assembly, said that the world must put ‘maximum pressure’ on Putin whose decisions ‘will serve to isolate Russia further.’

The European Union said its foreign ministers would hold an emergency meeting late Wednesday in New York to address Putin’s speech.

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska arrives prior to an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly 

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska in New York City on Wednesday, the same day her husband addressed the UN general assembly

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