Weapons decide who survives, Zelenskyy tells the UN General Assembly

“International law doesn’t work fully unless you have powerful friends who are truly willing to stand up for it. And even that doesn’t work without weapons,” Zelenskyy continued.

Refereeing to the war that has gripped his country since 2022, he said that “every year that this war goes on, weapons become even more deadly, and only Russia deserves to be blamed for this.” Zelenskyy urged immediate action, saying, “If it takes weapons to do it, if it takes pressure on Russia, then it must be done, and it must be done now. Otherwise, Putin will keep driving the war forward wider and deeper. And we told you before, Ukraine is only the first.”

The Ukrainian leader said true security must mean more than alliances and friendships, stressing that “if security guarantees work for Ukraine, something more than just friends and weapons, it will mean that people were able to make national security not a privilege for a few nations, but a right for everyone.”

Turning his fire on Moscow’s trading partners, Zelenskyy said, “War has already reached too many people to pretend it has nothing to do with you. So it depends on you whether you help peace or continue trading with Russia and helping Russia to fund this war.”

Zelenskyy’s comments come a day after Trump derided some European powers for continuing to buy Russian oil. “Inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products, which, as you know, I found out about two weeks ago, and I wasn’t happy. They’re funding the war against themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?,” he said.

Allies not safe

Citing Russia’s recent incursions into Polish and Estonian airspaces, Zelenskyy pointed out that “even being part of a long-standing military alliance [NATO] doesn’t automatically mean you’re safe.”

“Just recently, 19 simple Russian drones went into Polish airspace and only four of them were shot down,” he said adding Estonia had to call its first UN Security Council meeting due to Russian attacks and warned that Moldova is also vulnerable, with the global response insufficient.

“It’s important that Europe doesn’t lose Moldova to Russia in the same way as Georgia,” Zelenskyy said. “Europe missed its chance to act to save Georgia, just as it failed to save Belarus. If Europe doesn’t help Moldova, the cost will be much higher than stepping in now.”

“The EU needs to support Moldova with funding and energy help — not just words and political gestures,” he continued. “Russia’s trying to do to Moldova what Iran once did to Lebanon and the global response again, not enough. We have already lost Georgia in Europe… and for many, many years, Belarus has also been moving toward dependence on Russia. Europe cannot afford to lose Moldova too.”

‘Most destructive arms race’

Zelenskyy also referenced recent violent attacks abroad, including the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the killing of Charlie Kirk, and the murder of Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska in the US. “Nearly every day when we open the news, we see headlines about violent attacks,” he said. “Most involve weapons we’re used to, but weapons are also evolving faster than our ability to defend ourselves.”

He warned that “tens of thousands” now know how to use drones to kill as a result of Russia’s war. “What happens if drones become more widely available?” he asked.

“The world moves too slowly to protect itself. It’s only a matter of time before drones are fighting drones… all by themselves, fully autonomous,” Zelenskyy said.

“We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history,” he added, calling for “global rules” on how AI can be used.

“If there are no real security guarantees except friends and weapons, and if the world can’t even respond to all threats, and if there is no strong platform for international security, will there be any place left on Earth that’s still safe for people?,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also referred to the situation in Afghanistan and “cartels in some Latin America countries that are more powerful than the government,” saying: “this is all about collapse of international law and the weakness of the international institutions, and so it’s about the rise of weapons.”

Zelenskyy said Ukraine doesn’t have the “big fat missiles dictators love to show off in parades.” The country had no choice but to build drones “to protect our right to life.” “Because Russia left us with no other choice,” he said.

Speaking about underground schools and bunkers across Ukraine, he asked: “Do you have similar protection against threats in your country?”

“The facts are simple,” he said. “Stopping Putin now is cheaper than trying to protect the world’s ports or ships later. It’s easier than a global arms race.”

War has already reached “too many people,” Zelenskyy said, stressing the responsibility of world leaders. In closing, Zelenskyy mentioned a “good meeting” with US President Donald Trump and said he values Washington’s support, but “in the end peace depends on all of us.”

“Don’t stay silent while Russia keeps dragging this war on, please speak out and condemn it,” he added.

He ended his speech with: “Slava Ukraini” — meaning “Glory to Ukraine.”