Zelensky at the UN General Assembly: Putin will expand the war into Europe — “Weapons decide who survives”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday that the world is in “the most destructive arms race in human history” and urged the international community to act against Russia now, warning that Vladimir Putin will expand the war into Europe.

“Weapons decide who survives,” Zelensky declared before world leaders. “There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons.”

He acknowledged that international institutions, including the UN itself, have failed to stop wars breaking out in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere, and urged all member states to condemn Russia as it “drags out the war.” If Putin is not stopped now, he warned, the Kremlin will push the conflict “wider and deeper.”

The Ukrainian president also mentioned recent drone incursions into the airspace of NATO countries such as Poland and Estonia, Russia’s alleged use of chemical weapons, the abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children, and the continued threat to security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.

The speech came a day after his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump said on Tuesday that he believes Ukraine can reclaim all territory lost to Russia — a sharp shift from his earlier calls for concessions from Kyiv in the name of peace. Zelensky did not directly comment on the turnaround, saying only that he had had “a good meeting” with Trump and other leaders: “Together, we can change a lot.”

In his address, Zelensky said Ukraine is ready for an energy ceasefire if Russia also stops attacks on energy infrastructure, while requesting additional Patriot system batteries to protect Ukrainian cities during the winter.

Source: AP