INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Wednesday of plotting potentially catastrophic attacks on Ukrainian nuclear plants, in a
defiant UN address in which he denounced bids to impose peace from the outside.Zelensky sought to rally support among world leaders at their
annual gathering in New York as his concerns grow, weeks before a U.S
election that could sharply shift the stance of Ukraine's main backer.Speaking from the UN rostrum in a black polo jacket, Zelensky said
that Ukrainian intelligence has found that Russia is scanning the country's nuclear infrastructure by satellite.Russian President Vladimir
Putin "does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and the infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power
grid," Zelensky said."Any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster, a day like that must never come,"
Zelensky said."Moscow needs to understand this, and this depends in part on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor," he told
the General Assembly.Russia captured the giant Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant soon after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.Russia in
recent weeks has been pounding Ukraine's electricity grid, in what Western and Ukrainian officials describe as an attempt to leave the
country shivering during the winter.'Never accept' deal from outsideZelensky on Thursday will head to the White House to see President Joe
Biden and present what he describes as a "victory plan" that shows a path forward for Ukraine.In his UN address, Zelensky singled out China
and Brazil as he questioned the "true interest" of countries that have been pressing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia.Employing the language
of the Global South, Zelensky said: "You will not boost your power at Ukraine's expense, and the world has already been through colonial
in the world believes that such a brutal colonial past, which suits no one today, can be imposed on Ukraine now," Zelensky said.Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a Security Council session on Tuesday that diplomacy was the only solution.Zelensky last year flew to the
General Assembly in a dramatic first wartime appearance and, while he maintains star power, the political landscape has changed.Donald
Trump, running again for president, on Wednesday called Zelensky the "greatest salesman on Earth.""Every time Zelensky comes to the United
States, he walks away with $100 billion," Trump said, claiming "We're stuck in that war unless I'm president."The United States has provided
around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and Biden has ruled out
sending troops.Trump in the past has voiced admiration for Putin and, during his 2017-2021 presidency, was impeached for the first time over
delaying aid to Ukraine to press Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden.Zelensky said he hoped to see Trump while in the United States and explain
that the war is more complicated.Zelensky has sharply criticized Trump's running mate, J.D
Vance, who has said bluntly that he does not care about Ukraine and that the United States should focus instead on confronting China."Let Mr
Vance read up on the history of the Second World War, when a country was forced to give part of its territory to one particular person,"
Zelensky told The New Yorker.In Germany, the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also facing
pressure from parties opposed to support for Kyiv.Britain has been among the most robust supporters of Ukraine
Foreign Secretary David Lammy told AFP that his government was committed to helping "to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position" as
winter approaches.Lebanon crisisThe annual extravaganza marks a swansong for Biden, 81, who has passed the torch to Vice President Kamala
Harris to face Trump in the November 5 election.The summit comes against the backdrop of chaos in the Middle East as Israel ramps up attacks
on the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, killing hundreds and prompting a mass exodus of people.The UN Security Council will hold a
special session on Wednesday on Lebanon, as the United States says it hopes to present ideas for de-escalation.Wednesday will also see talks
stabilization efforts in violence-ravaged Haiti after Kenya began a long-awaited policing mission.
