Referencing recent violent outbreaks, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Hamas' attack on Israel, Zelensky underscored that terror in one part of the world has far-reaching impacts, affecting security on a global scale.
He stated: "The only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine. The intentions declared are different, but the essence is the same."
Zelensky also criticized Iran, accusing it indirectly of being implicated in conflicts involving both Russia and Israel. He pointed to the use of around 1,000 Iranian-designed Shahed drones by Russia over the past six months in Ukraine and slammed Iranian officials for supporting the attacks by Hamas against Israel.
"Iran can't say it has nothing to do with what is going on in Ukraine if it sells Shaheds to Russia," Zelensky said.
"Iran can't say it has nothing to do with what is going on in Israel, if its officials claim the support of what is going on in Israel," he added.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted longstanding ties between Tehran and Hamas, but stated there was no evidence of Iran’s involvement in the latest attacks on Israel.
Zelensky’s statements in Copenhagen, delivered via video link, urged a unified response from the West to the global crises.
“This is not the time to withdraw from the international arena into internal disputes," the Ukrainian leader said, as cited by the Reuters news agency. "This is not the time to isolate ourselves. This is not the time to remain silent or pretend that the terror on one continent does not affect global affairs."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 594 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP, Reuters