Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky challenged the United Nations to "act immediately" or "dissolve yourself altogether" during a blistering address in which he showed a harrowing video of dead bodies -- including children -- he said were victims of Russian atrocities, AFP reported.

Zelensky called on the 15-member council to expel Russia "so it cannot block decisions about its own aggression, its own war."

Russia, as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, has a veto, which it has repeatedly wielded to block resolutions and negotiations on the global stage.

"If there is no alternative and no option, then the next option would be to dissolve yourself altogether," Zelensky continued.

The United Nations could be "simply closed," he said. "Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to close the UN? And the time of international law is gone? If your answer is no, then you need to act immediately."