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As he seemed on the lacking limbs and grief-stricken faces of wounded Ukrainian troopers being handled in a US hospital, President Volodymyr Zelensky had one phrase for Russian leaders heading to a key UN summit: “terrorists.”
Zelensky arrived in New York on Monday to handle the United Nations Common Meeting and plead for extra help as Ukraine painfully pushes forward with a high-stakes counteroffensive to wrest again territory from Russian forces greater than 18 months into the conflict.
Earlier than assembly world leaders, Zelensky headed to Staten Island College Hospital, the place a gaggle of Ukrainian troopers are receiving prosthetic legs and arms and rehabilitation companies.
In a big hospital room, the Ukrainian president watched as a number of troopers in khaki uniform practiced strolling and lifting weights with newly acquired prosthetic legs and arms.
Zelensky chatted with the troopers and shook their fingers — if that they had them.
Whilst he tried to elevate the troopers’ spirits, the Ukrainian chief was visibly shaken.
“Is it robust?” Zelensky requested one soldier.
“Slightly,” got here the reply.
One other soldier, who hails from the Zaporizhzhia area in southern Ukraine, the location of intense preventing, tried to placed on a courageous face.
“How are you doing? Is it tough?” Zelensky requested.
The soldier paused, then answered: “It is okay.”
“Keep sturdy,” Zelensky implored.
9 Ukrainian troopers are presently present process remedy on the hospital. The clinic has helped a complete of 35 servicemen over the previous 12 months, in keeping with hospital workers and the Ukrainian-American NGO Variety Deeds which provides prostheses for conflict amputees.
Kyiv doesn’t disclose conflict casualty figures, however US officers estimate that the variety of lifeless and wounded Ukrainian troopers is nearing 500,000, the New York Occasions reported final month.
“Get dwelling quickly, thanks in your service,” Zelensky informed the troopers as he left the room.
In one other room, Zelensky, flanked by medical workers, informed a distinct group of troopers that their American docs had been amazed by the Ukrainian servicemen’s resilience and dedication.
“He stated ‘I’ve by no means seen individuals who have such a robust want to return dwelling,'” Zelensky stated of 1 doctor. “All of us will likely be ready so that you can come again dwelling, we completely want each one among you, each sturdy Ukrainian fighter with a purpose to defeat our enemy. I’m satisfied that it’ll actually occur.”
Zelensky then offered some troopers and hospital workers with Ukrainian state awards.
Requested by a journalist about the potential of ending up in the identical room with Russian representatives in the course of the Common Meeting, Zelensky turned somber.
“It’s, for us, crucial that each one our phrases, all our messages, are heard by our companions,” Zelensky stated. “If within the United Nations nonetheless … there’s a place for Russian terrorists, the query is to not me — I believe it is a query to all of the member states.”
Zelensky posed for pictures with troopers, together with one who had prosthetics for each arms and appeared deeply traumatized. After the photograph was taken, Zelensky helped the soldier sit again down.
On account of deal with the UN Common Meeting on Tuesday, Zelensky headed off.
“I want you victory and to return again dwelling,” he informed the troopers.
Zelensky arrived in New York on Monday to handle the United Nations Common Meeting and plead for extra help as Ukraine painfully pushes forward with a high-stakes counteroffensive to wrest again territory from Russian forces greater than 18 months into the conflict.
Earlier than assembly world leaders, Zelensky headed to Staten Island College Hospital, the place a gaggle of Ukrainian troopers are receiving prosthetic legs and arms and rehabilitation companies.
In a big hospital room, the Ukrainian president watched as a number of troopers in khaki uniform practiced strolling and lifting weights with newly acquired prosthetic legs and arms.
Zelensky chatted with the troopers and shook their fingers — if that they had them.
Whilst he tried to elevate the troopers’ spirits, the Ukrainian chief was visibly shaken.
“Is it robust?” Zelensky requested one soldier.
“Slightly,” got here the reply.
One other soldier, who hails from the Zaporizhzhia area in southern Ukraine, the location of intense preventing, tried to placed on a courageous face.
“How are you doing? Is it tough?” Zelensky requested.
The soldier paused, then answered: “It is okay.”
“Keep sturdy,” Zelensky implored.
9 Ukrainian troopers are presently present process remedy on the hospital. The clinic has helped a complete of 35 servicemen over the previous 12 months, in keeping with hospital workers and the Ukrainian-American NGO Variety Deeds which provides prostheses for conflict amputees.
Kyiv doesn’t disclose conflict casualty figures, however US officers estimate that the variety of lifeless and wounded Ukrainian troopers is nearing 500,000, the New York Occasions reported final month.
“Get dwelling quickly, thanks in your service,” Zelensky informed the troopers as he left the room.
In one other room, Zelensky, flanked by medical workers, informed a distinct group of troopers that their American docs had been amazed by the Ukrainian servicemen’s resilience and dedication.
“He stated ‘I’ve by no means seen individuals who have such a robust want to return dwelling,'” Zelensky stated of 1 doctor. “All of us will likely be ready so that you can come again dwelling, we completely want each one among you, each sturdy Ukrainian fighter with a purpose to defeat our enemy. I’m satisfied that it’ll actually occur.”
Zelensky then offered some troopers and hospital workers with Ukrainian state awards.
Requested by a journalist about the potential of ending up in the identical room with Russian representatives in the course of the Common Meeting, Zelensky turned somber.
“It’s, for us, crucial that each one our phrases, all our messages, are heard by our companions,” Zelensky stated. “If within the United Nations nonetheless … there’s a place for Russian terrorists, the query is to not me — I believe it is a query to all of the member states.”
Zelensky posed for pictures with troopers, together with one who had prosthetics for each arms and appeared deeply traumatized. After the photograph was taken, Zelensky helped the soldier sit again down.
On account of deal with the UN Common Meeting on Tuesday, Zelensky headed off.
“I want you victory and to return again dwelling,” he informed the troopers.
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