Support The Moscow Times!

Putin Scheduled to Address UN General Assembly

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend this year's United Nations General Assembly in September, according to a provisional list of speakers released by the UN.

Putin plans to address the gathering of the world's heads of states and governments on its opening day, Sept. 28, according to the list circulated at the UN on Monday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin intended to appear, but said the plan was not yet final, Russia's state-run news agency Sputnik reported.

"I can confirm that such a possibility is being considered, preparations are underway," Peskov was quoted as saying.

Putin's visit, if it takes place, would come after a decade-long break. The Russian leader previously addressed the UN General Assembly in 2000, 2003 and 2005.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko is scheduled to speak on Sept. 29, the day after Putin's planned appearance, and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko also plans to attend.

Also on the schedule is Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is slated to address the General Assembly for the first time.

While the preliminary list is a good indication of who might attend, the lists of General Assembly speakers have been known to see numerous changes in the weeks and days leading up to the high-level meeting.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more