Zelenskyy calls Putin ‘Patient Zero’ of war, urges more sanctions against Russia at UNGA

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. He called for more economic sanctions against Russia, along the lines of the Russia sanctions act in the US, and slammed Russia's Vladimir Putin as the 'Patient Zero' of war.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the 81st session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters on September 23, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images via AFP)Zelenskyy spoke hours after Russia's foreign minister Sergey Larvod spoke on Wednesday. Larvov said that Kremlin is willing to negotiate lasting peace in the region but won't pause the war, as it would give Ukraine and its allies time to gather weapons.

In his address, Zelenskyy described Putin as 'Patient Zero' of the disease of war. Patient Zero is a term used for the first infected patient of a major disease outbreak.

“Something always seems to stop Putin from saying, ‘That’s it. Enough, Peace,’” Zelenskyy told the UNGA. “Can you even imagine him without war? He is ‘Patient Zero’, the one from whom war keeps spreading further. ... ‘Patient Zero’ must be stopped."

Taking a cue from the United States' recent Russia sanctions act, which gives the Trump administration power to impose up to 100% tariffs on countries importing oil and gas from Russia, Zelenskyy called for similar sanctions from other nations, noting that Russia's revenues "must remain a target."

“When someone gives Russia more money through trade, they give this war more time. And that is exactly why we insist on limiting trade with the aggressor, and why we are burning Russia’s revenues ourselves,” Zelenskyy said.

Against the backdrop of the Russia sanctions act, Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a closed-door meeting at the UNGA Wednesday. Rubio told reporters after the meeting that Russia and Ukraine both expressed interest in a limited ceasefire which would limit the attacks on energy infrastructures from both sides.

“Obviously, you know, that won’t be easy either because" Rubio said. "But it’s something that both sides have expressed interest in. It doesn’t solve a war, but it does, I think, in some ways potentially alleviate some of the global pressures that have been felt as a result of that. So that’s something we’re always open to exploring.”

Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More