Zelensky warns Russia planning attacks on nuclear plants

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on world leaders to support his peace formula to end Russia's invasion of his country, as he told the United Nations General Assembly that Russia was planning attacks on Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

"I received yet another alarming report from our intelligence now, Putin does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and the infrastructure aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid with the help of satellites," Mr Zelensky said.

He added: "By the way, ladies and gentlemen, satellites of other countries, Russia is getting images and detailed information about the infrastructure of our nuclear power plants."

"But what does this really threaten? Any missile or drone strike, any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster, a day like that must never come," he told world leaders.

Mr Zelensky warned that Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was a "source of radiation danger in Europe, possibly in the world".

He added that Russia intended to "torment millions" through its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

"This is how Putin is preparing for winter, hoping to torment millions, millions of Ukrainians, ordinary families, women, children, ordinary towns, ordinary villages," he said.

"Putin wants to leave them in the dark and cold this winter, forcing Ukraine to suffer and surrender," he told the General Assembly.

He also accused Iran and North Korea of supporting Russia’s war effort and suggested other member states, such as China and Brazil, were supporting "half-hearted settlement plans" rather than "a just peace" in an effort to boost their own power.

Ukraine’s President claimed it was impossible "to truly resolve matters of peace and war in the United Nations," because of the veto power held by permanent members of the Security Council - including Russia.

"When the aggressor exercises veto power, the UN is powerless to stop the war," Mr Zelensky said, but that there was no veto on his peace formula.

Mr Zelensky's presence at the General Assembly comes as Russian troops advance in the east and US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump threatens to close the books on military aid.

Speaking to a Security Council session yesterday on Ukraine, Mr Zelensky brushed aside calls to negotiate a settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what's needed," Mr Zelensky said.

He will head to Washington tomorrow to enjoy a show of support at the White House by President Joe Biden and to present a further outline of what the Ukrainian leader calls a "victory plan."

Mr Trump called Mr Zelensky the "greatest salesman on Earth."

"Every time Zelensky comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion," the former president said.

"But we're stuck in that war unless I'm president. I'll get it done. I'll get it negotiated, I'll get out. We got to get out."

The United States has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and Mr Biden has ruled out sending troops.

Mr Trump in the past has voiced admiration for Mr Putin and, during his 2017-2021 presidency, was impeached for the first time over delaying aid to Ukraine to press Mr Zelensky to dig up dirt on Mr Biden.

Mr Zelensky said he would likely meet Mr Trump while in the United States and explain that the war is more complicated.

"My feeling is that Trump doesn't really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand," Mr Zelensky told The New Yorker magazine.

Mr Zelensky was harsher in his assessment of Mr Trump's running mate, JD Vance, who has said bluntly that he does not care about Ukraine and that the United States should focus instead on confronting China.

"Let Mr Vance read up on the history of the Second World War, when a country was forced to give part of its territory to one particular person," Mr Zelensky said.

In Germany, the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also facing pressure from parties opposed to support.

But support by most Western nations remains strong for the moment. The European Union last week announced €35 billion in loans backed by the revenues of frozen Russian assets.

Britain has been among the most robust supporters of Ukraine. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that his government was committed to helping "to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position" as winter approaches.