Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a powerful message at the United Nations General Assembly, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions will not end with Ukraine. Zelensky warned that without decisive action from allies, Putin “will keep driving the war forward wider and deeper,” threatening more nations.
Addressing the assembly in New York, Zelensky highlighted the escalating global arms race fueled by advancing military technology. He emphasized the critical role of weapons in determining outcomes and called for international regulations governing artificial intelligence (AI). His remarks follow a notable shift in stance from US President Donald Trump, who for the first time suggested that Ukraine could successfully reclaim all its occupied territories.
Zelensky expressed concerns about the current state of international institutions, suggesting they are too frail to offer Ukraine the security guarantees it needs. He pointedly remarked that membership in long-standing military alliances, like NATO, does not automatically confer safety.
“We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history,” Zelensky stated, arguing that confronting Russia now is a more prudent and cost-effective strategy than facing the potential future consequences of unchecked aggression, such as the development of nuclear-armed drones.
The Ukrainian leader also underscored the strategic importance of Moldova, a country situated between Ukraine and the EU member Romania, warning that its stability is at risk due to Russian influence. He lamented that the West had previously missed opportunities to prevent Georgia and Belarus from falling under Putin’s sway.
These statements come amid heightened tensions in Eastern Europe. On Thursday, Estonia and Poland requested consultations with NATO allies following recent airspace violations by Russian jets and drones, with Romania also reporting similar incursions.
Earlier in the week, after his UN address, Trump advised NATO nations to take decisive action against Russian aircraft violating their airspace. Zelensky welcomed Trump’s comments, describing their meeting as productive. He also indicated that the US is prepared to offer Ukraine security guarantees once the conflict concludes, potentially involving increased military aid, including advanced air defense systems and drones.
Trump’s assertion that Kyiv can achieve victory with Western support appears to mark a departure from his earlier proposals involving “land swaps” as a peace condition. In response to Trump’s description of Russia as a “paper tiger,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered, comparing Russia to a bear and dismissing the “paper bear” notion, suggesting Trump’s remarks were influenced by Zelensky’s perspective and were contrary to Russia’s understanding of the situation.