Zelenskyy addresses UN as Rubio of U.S. says Ukraine, Russia have interest in limited ceasefire | CBC News

Before UN address, Zelenskyy expressed support for proposals to allow flow of grain through Black Sea

Russia pounded Kyiv with drone strikes on Wednesday, hitting railway infrastructure, warehouses and fuel stations, just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

At least two people were killed and more than 30 were injured in the attack, which lasted for hours from the morning into early afternoon, officials said, in one ​of the heaviest strikes since Russia began attacking Kyiv and nearby areas over the summer with faster and high-flying jet drones that are harder to intercept.

Addressing the UN on Wednesday afternoon, Zelenskyy did not mention the morning attacks but urged the world's leaders to keep choking Russia's revenues and impede its war efforts, telling the assembly that "Russia's revenues must remain a target."

"When someone gives Russia more money through trade, they give this war more time. And that is exactly why we insist on limiting trade with the aggressor, and why we are burning Russia's revenues ourselves," he said, speaking in English.

Highlighting Russian President Vladimir Putin's drive to continue the war despite heavy Russian losses, Zelenskyy warned that Putin will continue pushing farther into Europe.

"Please, everyone here, do not be the last to join those who defend life. Be the first to say we guaranteed security," he said.

Ahead of his address, Zelenskyy spoke at the Crimean Platform summit at the UN, where he told leaders that Ukraine was ready for a maritime truce in the Black Sea based on proposals by Egypt, India and Turkey. Top wheat importers in Asia, the Middle East ‌and Africa that count on the Black Sea region for wheat have been finding it hard to secure supplies, and wheat prices have soared.

Trump and Zelenskyy discuss potential for energy truce in face of new wave of strikes on infrastructure

U.S. Secretary of State ⁠Marco Rubio told reporters after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday that both Russia ⁠and Ukraine had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire involving grain and energy, while cautioning a deal on those points "won't be easy."

"It doesn't solve the war, but it does, I think, in some ways potentially alleviate some of the global pressures that are being felt," Rubio said.

The U.S. diplomat said there are no plans for a one-on-one meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, but he said the Russian president has been invited to attend the G20 summit in December in Florida.