Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited his country’s wounded soldiers at the Staten Island University Hospital on Monday ahead of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
Zelensky will speak at the annual UN General Assembly for the first time since the war on Ukraine began.
He wasted no time as he went to visit his very own wounded soldiers right after he arrived in New York, as he shook each of the soldiers hands as he walked into the press conference.
He then proceeded to hand out honorary medals to the soldiers and members of the hospital staff.
Some of the soldiers he visited were bound to wheelchairs, as others had prosthetic limbs. The President even helped one soldier, confined to a wheelchair, get on his feet to pose for a picture together.
Zelensky will speak at the annual UN General Assembly for the first time since the war on Ukraine began
He wasted no time as he went to visit his very own wounded soldiers right after he arrived in New York, as he shook each of the soldiers hands as soon as he walked into the press conference
The President even helped one soldier, confined to a wheelchair, get on his feet to pose for a picture together
Some of the soldiers he visited were bound to wheelchairs, as others had prosthetic limbs
During his visit, President Zelensky told reporters at Staten Island University Hospital: ‘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… 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,’ he added.
He also toured the facility with Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health, who own the hospital. Dowling said that 18 Ukrainian soldiers have received treatment there since March.
‘We have an obligation to help with this situation in Ukraine as much as we possibly can,’ said Dowling in live footage from Sky News.
In a large hospital room, the Ukrainian president watched as several soldiers in khaki uniforms practiced walking and lifting weights with newly acquired prosthetic legs and arms.
Nine Ukrainian soldiers are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. The clinic has helped a total of 35 servicemen over the past year, according to hospital staff and the Ukrainian-American NGO Kind Deeds, which supplies prostheses for war amputees.
Kyiv does not disclose war casualty figures, but US officials estimate that the number of dead and wounded Ukrainian soldiers is nearing 500,000, the New York Times reported last month.
According to a post by Zelensky he and his wife Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, arrived in the US for the UN General Assembly and to visit Washington DC.
In a large hospital room, the Ukrainian president watched as several soldiers in khaki uniform practiced walking and lifting weights with newly acquired prosthetic legs and arms
He also toured the facility that Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health, who owns the hospital. Dowling said that 18 Ukrainian soldiers have received treatment there since March
Nine Ukrainian soldiers are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. The clinic has helped a total of 35 servicemen over the past year
During his visit, President Zelensky told reporters at Staten Island University Hospital: ‘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… 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,’ he added
He then listed his itinerary of events that he will attend, including the General Assembly, the SDG Summit, the Security Council meeting at the UN, and ‘a number of important bilateral talks’.
In Washington DC he will meet with President Joe Biden, leaders of the US Congress’ chambers and parties, military leadership, American businesses, journalists, and Ukrainian community members.
He ended his tweet with: ‘I will thank the United States on behalf of Ukraine for its assistance in our struggle for independence and freedom.’ His text was followed by emojis of the Ukrainian flag and the US flag.
As he left the hospital he said: ‘I wish you victory and to come back home.’
