Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy questions why Russia still has a place at UN

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited wounded Ukrainian soldiers at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. Photo / AP

Days before potentially crossing paths with Russia’s top diplomat at the United Nations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that the world body needs to answer for allowing his country’s invader a seat at the tables of power.

“For us, it’s very important that all our words, all our messages, will be heard by our partners. And if in the United Nations still – it’s a pity, but still – there is a place for Russian terrorists, the question is not to me. I think it’s a question to all the members of the United Nations,” Zelenskyy said after visiting wounded Ukrainian military members at a New York hospital.

He had just arrived in the United States to make his country’s case to the world and to Washington for continued help in trying to repel Russia’s invasion, nearly 19 months into what has become a grinding war.

Ukraine’s Western allies have supplied weapons and other assistance, and the US Congress is currently weighing President Joe Biden’s request to provide as much as US$24 billion (NZ$40b) more in military and humanitarian aid.

US lawmakers are increasingly divided over providing additional money to Ukraine. Zelenskyy is scheduled to spend some time on Capitol Hill this week and to meet Biden at the White House.

Before that, he is due to address world leaders at the UN General Assembly and speak at a UN Security Council meeting. Russia is a permanent, veto-wielding member of the council and its foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, is expected to speak too.

Asked whether he’d stay in the room to listen, Zelenskyy said: “I don’t know how it will be, really.”

Zelenskyy has taken the UN to task before, even before the invasion by a neighbour that, as a Security Council member, is entrusted with maintaining international peace and security. In one memorable example, he lamented at the General Assembly in 2021 that the UN was “a retired superhero who’s long forgotten how great they once were”.

The New York hospital has treated Ukrainian military members who lost limbs in the war. Photo / AP

Travelling to the US for the first time since December, he began with a stop at Staten Island University Hospital. The facility has, to date, treated 18 Ukrainian military members who lost limbs in the war, said Michael J Dowling, chief executive of its parent company, Northwell Health.

With help from a New Jersey-based charity called Kind Deeds, the injured have been fitted for prostheses and are undergoing outpatient physical therapy.

Zelenskyy greeted several injured troops as they exercised in a rehab gym. He asked about their wounds, wished them a speedy recovery and thanked them for their service.

“How are you doing? Is it difficult?” Zelenskyy asked one, who paused and then said it was OK.

“Stay strong,” Zelenskyy replied, later telling the group their country was grateful and proud of them.

Later, in a hospital conference room, he awarded medals to the injured, posed for photos, signed a large Ukrainian flag and thanked medical staff and the injured troops.

“We all will be waiting for you back home,” he said. “We absolutely need every one of you.”