At the UN General Assembly, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya emphasized that any future peace settlement in Ukraine must recognize the “new territorial realities” — including Russia’s claimed annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. He called these actions a correction of historical injustices and blamed Western-backed “Russophobic” policies in Kyiv for forcing these regions to join Russia. Nebenzya reaffirmed Moscow’s willingness to pursue a diplomatic solution but warned that lasting peace will require the world to accept the facts on the ground. The speech sparked strong reactions from Western delegations and Ukraine’s representatives.