‘Ukraine is only first’: Zelenskyy warns against Putin’s expansionist goals

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, claims that there is “the most destructive arms race in history” and that Russia is currently engaged in a “most destructive arms race.” He also asserts that Vladimir Putin wants to expand his war in Europe in an address to the UN General Assembly.

Putin wants to keep fighting this war by growing it, Zelenskyy said on Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York, “Ukraine is only the first, and now Russian drones are already flying across Europe, and Russian operations are already spreading across countries.”

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Following Russia’s repeated violations of European Union airspace, which have put the NATO alliance at odds with, the Ukrainian president’s speech at this year’s UNGA was one of the most anticipated.

Moscow has refuted claims that NATO members have entered their airspace, accusing European allies of making absurd claims.

The following day, Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump, the president of the United States, who criticized Russia and supported Ukraine’s efforts.

Trump’s repeated demands for Kyiv to make concessions on the ensuing conflict were met with a dramatic change, Trump said on Tuesday, saying he believed Ukraine could regain all of the territory it had lost to Russia.

We had a good meeting yesterday. We can change a lot together, and President Trump and I also had a conversation about this. Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the UNGA for their support.

The Ukrainian leader said weapons won’t change the conflict with Russia because it will depend on international law rather than international standards.

“A country still needs to work on its weapons if it wants peace,” the statement read. Zelenskyy said, “It’s sick, but that’s the reality.” Weapons decide who survives, not international law or cooperation.

Without “real security guarantees” and a strong platform for international security, Zelenskyy emphasized the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

He urged for the restoration of international cooperation and said, “We need global rules now for how AI can be used in weapons, and this is just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.”

Zelenskyy issues a warning about Moldova.

The Ukrainian president expressed concern that the Kremlin’s alleged plot to stoke domestic unrest threatens Moldova’s independence.

Concerns that Russia might invade the country of 2.3 million people have long been stoked by the presence of Russian troops in Transnistria, a breakaway region in Moldova.

According to Zelenskyy, “Europe cannot afford to lose Moldova as well.”