UN member states will vote today on making an exception to allow Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to address next week’s general assembly by video, according to diplomatic sources.

World leaders were allowed to speak by video in 2020 and in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, but this year the event has gone back to in-person.

Only heads of government or state are allowed to speak. 

Countries like China and Russia that haven’t sent a head of state or government can have another top official speak on their behalf, but only after the heads have spoken.

A draft text seen by AFP, which will be submitted to the general assembly today, notes that some leaders cannot participate for reasons beyond their control “owing to ongoing foreign invasion, aggression, military hostilities”.

As a result, it suggests “Ukraine may submit a recorded statement of its head of state”.

According to the latest available schedule, Ukraine’s address is slated for September 21 in the afternoon. 

Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February, the Ukrainian president has made several video addresses to the members of the security council. 

The last occasion was August, when the video address was opposed by Russia, in vain. – AFP, September 16, 2022.