After Russia's defeat in the southern city of Kherson, Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged world leaders on Tuesday (Nov. 15) to support a proposal to end the war in his nation. In addition, he declared that Ukraine would not permit Russian forces to reassemble once they left Kherson and that there would continue to be fighting until it regained control of all of its occupied territory.

In Kherson the day before, where he said Ukraine had acquired proof of at least 400 war crimes, including murders and kidnappings, committed by Russian forces, he shook hands with soldiers and waved to locals. He spoke via video link to the summit on the island of Bali and declared, "I am convinced now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped."

He demanded that Russia halt all of its military operations in Ukraine, reaffirmed the country's territorial integrity, and vowed that Kyiv would not jeopardize its sovereignty, independence, or territorial integrity. He also demanded the release of all detainees from Ukraine. "Please choose your path for leadership - and together we will surely implement the peace formula," he said.

In the wake of Monday's meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, Kyiv also welcomed Chinese criticism of threats to use nuclear weapons. In a summary of their discussion in Indonesia on the eve of the G20 conference, the two leaders "underscored their opposition to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine."

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has frequently said that his country may use nuclear weapons to protect its territorial integrity, which the West saw as an implicit threat to use such weapons over Ukrainian territory Moscow claims to have annexed. Because of their mutual mistrust of the West, Xi and Putin have become closer in recent years, and China has refrained from publicly criticizing Russia for the incursion.

According to a senior US official, the US anticipates the G20 to denounce Russia's war in Ukraine and its effects on the world economy. Since Russia is a group member, it is unlikely that there will be an agreement on Ukraine, and the source declined to specify how the disapproval would be expressed. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed Putin's administration will hear the clamor of international criticism of its conduct while speaking in Bali.

Moscow claims to be conducting a "special military operation" in Ukraine to expel nationalists and safeguard towns that speak Russian. The Kremlin's actions are characterized as an unjustified war of aggression by Ukraine and the West. Ukraine has stated time and time again that it is prepared for peace but will not surrender its land.