Ukraine’s president says the world is in `the most destructive arms race
in human history’
[September 25, 2025]
By EDITH M. LEDERER
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told
global leaders Wednesday that the world is in “the most destructive arms
race in human history” and urged the international community to act
against Russia now, asserting that Vladimir Putin wants to expand his
war in Europe.
In a bleak view of today’s world, he told the annual high-level meeting
of the U.N. General Assembly that weak international institutions
including the United Nations haven’t been able to stop wars in Ukraine,
Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, and international law can’t help nations
survive.
“Weapons decide who survives,” the Ukrainian leader said. “There are no
security guarantees except friends and weapons.”
Zelenskyy spoke from the podium of the vast assembly chamber a day after
he met with President Donald Trump, who expressed support for Ukraine’s
efforts and criticized Russia. Trump said Tuesday that he believed
Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, a dramatic shift
from the U.S. leader’s repeated calls for Kyiv to make concessions to
end the war sparked by President Vladimir Putin's February 2022 invasion
of its smaller neighbor.
Zelenskyy did not comment on the surprise U.S. pivot, saying only that
he had “a good meeting” with Trump and with many other “strong leaders."
"Together, we can change a lot,” he said, expressing appreciation for
support from the United States. and Europe and urging all U.N. member
nations to condemn Russia while it “keeps dragging this war on.”
If Putin isn't stopped now, the Ukrainian president warned the assembly
that he will keep driving the war forward, “wider and deeper.”
“Ukraine is only the first, and now Russian drones are already flying
across Europe, and Russian operations are already spreading across
countries,” he said.
Worries about Moldova
Zelenskyy said neighboring Moldova is defending itself again from
Russian interference and should not be allowed to move toward dependency
on Russia as Georgia and Belarus are. “Europe cannot afford to lose
Moldova, too,” he said, stressing that the country needs funding and
energy support, not just “political gestures.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, weapons and especially
drones “are evolving faster than our ability to defend ourselves.”
[to top of second column]
|
Ukrainę President Volodymyr Zelenskyy leaves after speaking at the
80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday,
Sept. 24, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
While drones previously were used by major countries, he said, “Now,
there are tens of thousands of people who know how to professionally
kill using drones.”
Recently, European airports had to shut down because of drones,
Zelenskyy said, and last week North Korea announced the test of “a
tactical drone” which means even countries with limited resources
can build dangerous weapons.
“We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human
history, because this time it includes artificial intelligence,” he
said. “Companies are already working on drones that can shoot down
other drones, and it’s only a matter of time -- not much -- before
drones are fighting drones, attacking critical infrastructure and
attacking people all by themselves – fully autonomous and no human
involved except the few who control AI system."
Zelenskyy echoed U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in calling
for global rules on how AI can be used in weapons, stressing that
“this is just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear
weapons.”
Stopping Putin now is cheaper than trying to protect every port and
airport and every ship from drone attacks, and having to build
underground schools and health centers as Ukraine has been forced to
do to protect its citizens, he said. “Stopping Russia now is cheaper
than wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone
carrying a nuclear warhead.”
“So we must use everything we have together to force the aggressor
to stop, and only then do we have a real chance that this arms race
will not end in catastrophe for all of us,” the Ukrainian leader
said.
The Ukrainian leader said his country doesn’t have “big fat missiles
dictators love to show off in parades” but it is producing drones
that can fly 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers which have been used against
Russia.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is building a new security architecture, and
more than 30 countries are part of its coalition, and “we have
decided to open up for arms exports – and these are powerful systems
tested in a real war when every international institution failed.”
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
