It was supposed to be the first physical appearance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi at a UN Security Council meeting regarding Moscow’s invasion of his country, when Russian Ambassador Vasyl Nebenzya objected to his speech at the beginning of the meeting, Reuters reports.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whose country chairs the UN Security Council, jokingly responded to Moscow’s position that the invasion was not a war but a simple “special military operation”.

• “I want to assure our Russian colleagues and everyone present that this is not a special operation of the Albanian president,” said Rama, who is known for his wry sense of humor.
• “There is a solution to this,” continued Rama, addressing Nebenzi directly: “If you agree, stop the war and President Zelensky will not speak.”

Nebenzya did not agree. He went on to call the session a show and criticized Rama for making what he called politically charged statements rather than acting as a neutral watchdog of the proceedings.

• “Would it be an insult to the intelligence of this organization if we did not unanimously recognize and say aloud who is the aggressor and who is the aggressor? It is as clear a difference between war and peace. If we do not recognize this truth it is very clear that we are not only failing Ukraine and its people, but we are not fulfilling our main duty, endangering the future and betraying our children, from Brazil to Spain, from the Arctic Pole to the South. The struggle of Ukraine is the struggle of all who seek to live in a world where nations are free and levels where territorial integrity is indisputable, and the right to live in peace is indisputable. This country (the aggressor, Russia is not) is not only short-sighted, but also absolutely dangerous for everyone under it. This is why everyone must do their part.” – said Edi Rama.

After the meeting, Zelensky thanked Rama on social media, saying that the Albanian, who is both an artist and a former basketball player, “showed the world how to deal with Russia, its lies and hypocrisy.”

In an attempt to justify its invasion, Moscow said Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and the EU posed a threat to Russia’s national security, which Kyiv and its allies deny as a baseless pretext for the attack.

Zelensky demands that Moscow’s veto be lifted

When Zelenskyy got the floor after he arrived, he demanded that Russia be stripped of its veto power as punishment for attacking Ukraine. He also said that in the current UN system, other members are less influential than Russia’s veto power.

• “These days in the General Assembly, we hear the word inequality in the world too often. Different nations, both large and small, mention inequality. It is this inequality that makes the UN ineffective,” Zelenskyy said.

• “It is impossible to stop this war, because all efforts face the veto of the aggressor or those who support the aggressor,” the Ukrainian president added.

However, Zelensky left the meeting hall of the UN Security Council even before the Russian Foreign Minister began his speech.

Lavrov was also not present at Zelensky’s speech, AFP notes.

Appearing in the room after Zelensky’s departure, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov defended Moscow’s use of the veto as legitimate, accusing Kyiv and the West of selectively upholding the principles of the 1945 UN Charter only when it is convenient for them.