From Zelensky to Pezeshkian, five speeches that stood out at this year’s U.N. General Assembly debate
United Nations meetings on September 23 generated an unusually large number of headlines. Heads of state addressed the annual General Assembly debate at U.N. headquarters in New York, and the Security Council met there as well. Below are excerpts from some of the remarks that drew the most press attention: speeches by the presidents of Ukraine, Iran, and Argentina, plus an indirect exchange…
On September 23, 2026, the UN General Assembly debate saw a number of notable speeches that garnered significant press attention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the ongoing conflict in his country, with Putin promising to seize the Donetsk region yet again. He emphasized that Putin always promises "just a few more months" before changing the deadline.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to negotiate for a lasting and just peace, but he warned that the special military operation would not be paused for negotiations. He acknowledged Europe's desire for a respite and replenished military arsenals for the Kyiv regime, which resorted to terrorist methods in desperation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the accusations against Iran, clarifying that Iran has not attacked any country or territory in the past two centuries, but has always defended itself. He criticized the United States for falsely labeling Iran as terrorists and praised those who seek dialogue and diplomacy over force. Pezeshkian urged the international community to understand Iran's stance of seeking equal rights.
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