Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, asserting that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine cannot be resolved through dialogue alone; rather, it is essential to compel Moscow to pursue peace. Zelenskiy has been actively seeking the backing of Western leaders for his “victory plan,” aimed at concluding the war that erupted following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

He emphasized that the conflict will eventually come to an end, but not due to fatigue from the war or through negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, alluding to suggestions that Ukraine might relinquish territory occupied by Russia as a means to resolve the situation. “This war cannot be settled through discussions. We require decisive action,” Zelenskiy stated, expressing gratitude to nations that have supported Ukraine.

“Putin has violated numerous international norms and regulations, and he will not cease his aggression voluntarily. It is imperative to force Russia into peace, as it stands as the sole aggressor in this conflict and the primary violator of the U.N. Charter,” he remarked. Additionally, Zelenskiy criticized North Korea and Iran for supplying arms to Russia, labeling them as “de facto accomplices” of Moscow.

Ukraine is navigating a precarious future. A potential victory for former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. election on November 5 could lead to a significant shift in Washington’s approach to Ukraine, which is heavily dependent on American military and financial assistance. Current opinion polls indicate a closely contested race in the U.S.

Over two and a half years since the invasion, Russia has gained control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory and continues to make advances in the eastern regions. President Zelenskiy has expressed that if his strategy receives support from Western allies, it could have a substantial impact on Moscow, including a psychological effect that might encourage President Putin to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

So far, Zelenskiy has revealed little about his plan for victory, other than that it aims to serve as a precursor to a second Ukraine-led peace summit that Kyiv intends to host and invite Russia to later this year.

During a recent meeting, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized the 15-member council for hosting Zelenskiy, stating, “Western countries could not refrain from poisoning the atmosphere once again, trying to fill the air time with the hackneyed Ukrainian issue.”

Additionally, tensions flared between the top diplomats of China and the United States during the meeting. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked, “North Korea and Iran are not the only ones aiding and abetting Russia. China – another permanent member of this council – is the top provider of machine tools, microelectronics, and other items that Russia is using to rebuild, to restock, to ramp up its war machine and sustain its brutal aggression.”

In response, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi dismissed U.S. allegations, asserting that Beijing’s support for Russia does not enable its ongoing war in Ukraine. “I wish to make it clear that on the Ukraine issue, any move to shift responsibility onto China, or attack and smear China, is irresponsible and will lead nowhere,” he stated to the council.