World Leaders Call for First Female UN Secretary-General as Zelensky Criticises Putin at General Assembly
At the UN General Assembly, several heads of state urged the appointment of a woman as the next secretary-general, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin and highlighted ongoing conflicts involving Iran and Russia.
During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a growing chorus of leaders urged the appointment of the organization’s first female secretary-general. Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said, "In more than 80 years, no woman has led this organization; we trust that the Security Council and the General Assembly will rise to this moment." Estonian President Alar Karis echoed the sentiment, calling the selection "one of the UN’s most consequential decisions." Candidates include Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and other women from Ecuador, alongside three male contenders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his remarks to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling him "patient zero" of the war and warning that allowing him more freedom would increase global danger. Zelensky warned that Russia’s ambitions extend beyond Donetsk, citing threats to Moldova, Poland and the Baltic states. He also referenced a social-media post by U.S. President Donald Trump about Russian diesel shortages, noting that both leaders agree the conflict should end.
The assembly also featured speeches from Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who pledged that Iran would not bow to external pressure and called for international cooperation to achieve peace and stability. He warned that sanctions would only strengthen Iranian resistance and emphasized Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology for civilian progress.
Security concerns were highlighted after New York police and the U.S. Secret Service investigated a report of three individuals emerging from a Manhattan sewer near the hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is staying. Officials said the incident is being treated with heightened caution given the high-profile nature of the gathering.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to the G20 summit in Miami, describing the invitation as an opportunity for dialogue. Rubio also discussed ongoing U.S.–Iran talks, the planned end of the U.S. military presence in Iraq on September 30, and the challenges posed by Iranian sanctions on aviation.
Overall, the session underscored calls for gender parity in UN leadership, heightened tensions surrounding the Ukraine and Iran conflicts, and a series of diplomatic overtures amid security alerts.