The United Nations General Assembly convened with a palpable sense of urgency, dominated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s impassioned plea for more military assistance to continue his nation’s fight against Russia. His address underscored the rapid evolution of military technology, warning of a devastating new arms race and the potential for drones to deliver nuclear devices, alongside the unchecked dangers posed by artificial intelligence. This stark emphasis on weaponry, he argued, is the only way to defend freedom, even as he accused international institutions of failing to act. He warned that “we are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history” and that the threat would only grow with AI, calling for rules to govern the technology, as “a few years from now may be too late.” His focus on weapons stood in notable contrast to the Assembly’s traditional spirit of dialogue and diplomacy, a forum dedicated to promoting negotiations to end wars.
A day prior, former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a surprising turn, signaled renewed backing for Kyiv, suggesting Ukraine could reclaim all lost territory. This marked a significant departure from his previous stance, which had often urged Ukraine toward peace deals involving territorial concessions. While Ukrainians expressed gratitude, a deep-seated skepticism remained, shaped by Trump’s inconsistent public remarks and their nation’s arduous experience in the ongoing conflict. Moscow, predictably, dismissed Trump’s revised assessment, with a Kremlin spokesman quipping, “Russia is more associated with a bear, and there are no paper bears.” Trump’s changing views, from berating Zelensky in the Oval Office to praising him as “brave” during their recent meeting, left many unsure of the long-term implications. Zelensky himself admitted to being “a little bit” surprised by the strength of Trump’s statement, and highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s repeated falsehoods had also influenced his relationship with Trump. Despite this, Ukraine remains in a very difficult position, with Russian forces continuously gaining territory, demonstrating that there is no purely military way to reclaim the roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian land currently occupied by Russia, short of an unexpected Russian collapse. Zelensky, however, argued that Russia is suffering economically from international sanctions, rising war costs, and Ukrainian strikes on fuel infrastructure. Ultimately, Ukrainians remain wary of words without action, with Zelensky referencing the failure of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum as evidence that “international promises can turn into blabbering.” Ukraine is now building a new security architecture with allies, counting on the United States as a “backstop,” though Trump’s concluding remark of “Good luck to all!” on social media signaled a potential detachment.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also took the global stage for the first time since his country’s intense 12-day war with Israel and the United States. He presented Iran as a victim of military aggression, firmly stating that his nation has “never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” reiterating earlier comments from Ayatollah Khamenei. He criticized European countries for moving to impose snapback sanctions through the Security Council, deeming it an act that undermines diplomacy. His speech offered little new insight into Iran’s strategy for resolving its nuclear program standoff with the U.S. and European powers, as the country faces potential snapback sanctions from Britain, France, and Germany this week if no breakthrough is achieved. Iran’s currency has already plunged, and new restrictions threaten to derail diplomacy. Analysts believe a deal is unlikely given Iran’s political divisions and lack of a clear strategy.
Meanwhile, Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, made his global debut, expressing openness to a security agreement with Israel but cautioning against regional expansion and aggressive military actions. He stressed that Syria would not threaten any country, including Israel, but highlighted risks from continued airspace violations and provocations.
Beyond immediate conflicts, two critical global issues — artificial intelligence and climate change — featured prominently. The U.N. Security Council met to address the threat AI poses to world peace and stability, with Secretary-General António Guterres advocating for a global watchdog and regulatory framework. A climate summit hosted by Mr. Guterres was set to gather 118 countries to present their national plans ahead of the COP30 conference in Brazil in November. This issue remains a top priority for Guterres.
Spain’s King Felipe VI, among the first leaders to address attendees, defended the United Nations as ‘indefensible and irreplaceable.’ He vehemently condemned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including famine, starvation, and forced displacements, calling them “abhorrent acts that stand in stark contrast to everything that this forum represents” and declaring that “they offend human conscience and shame the entire international community.”
On climate action, the European Union’s climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, asserted that despite Trump’s repudiation of climate efforts, the world is not slowing down. He noted the EU’s commitment to ambitious emission reduction targets in the range of 66 to 72 percent by 2035, contrasting it sharply with the U.S. position. His comments underscored the delicate geopolitical dance where European leaders find themselves increasingly at odds with Washington while remaining dependent on U.S. cooperation for trade and security. This is partly why the EU is accelerating its ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, a move that benefits American suppliers, and has committed to buying significant oil and gas from the U.S. Europe also views China’s dominance in clean energy technologies with caution, accusing it of unfair competition.
The complex interplay of these international leaders and their agendas defined a pivotal week at the U.N., underscoring the interconnectedness of global challenges from military conflicts and nuclear proliferation to humanitarian crises, technological ethics, and environmental survival.