Zelenskyy Warns UN Of Global Arms Race Threat

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a dire warning to the world’s leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2025, painting a picture of a globe teetering on the edge of catastrophe. With a voice that rang with urgency, Zelenskyy declared, “We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history.” According to the Associated Press, he stressed that this new era of warfare is being shaped by rapid advancements in drones and artificial intelligence, and that the consequences could soon spiral beyond Ukraine’s borders.

From the podium of the UN’s vast assembly hall, Zelenskyy didn’t mince words. “Weapons decide who survives,” he said. “There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons.” His message was clear: international law and institutions, including the United Nations itself, have failed to prevent the proliferation of conflict—not only in Ukraine, but also in Gaza, Sudan, and Somalia. As reported by Fox News, he lamented, “What can Sudan or Somalia or Palestine or any other people living through war really expect from the UN or the global system? Just statements.”

The Ukrainian leader’s address came just one day after a pivotal meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. In an unexpected shift, Trump expressed strong support for Ukraine’s efforts and criticized Russia, a move that represented a significant departure from his previous calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the war. Trump’s social media post, cited by The New York Times, stated, “Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.” Zelenskyy, for his part, described the meeting as “good” and thanked Trump for the “big shift” in American support. “Together, we can change a lot,” he told the assembly, expressing gratitude for the backing of both the United States and Europe.

The stakes, according to Zelenskyy, could not be higher. He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ambitions that stretch far beyond Ukraine. “Putin will keep driving the war forward wider and deeper. And we told you before, Ukraine is only the first. And now Russian drones are already flying across Europe,” he said in remarks reported by Fox News. “Russian operations are already spreading across countries, and Putin wants to continue this war by expanding it. No one can feel safe right now.”

The evidence for these warnings is mounting. Zelenskyy highlighted recent incidents: Russian drones entering Polish airspace, fighter jets breaching Estonian skies, and an alleged Moscow-backed plot to incite unrest during parliamentary elections in another European nation. “And the global response, again, not enough,” he said, calling for a more robust international reaction.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the toll has been staggering. As detailed by The Kyiv Post, an estimated 7 million Ukrainians have fled their homeland, around 14,000 civilians have been killed, and thousands of children have been abducted. “People are still dying every week,” Zelenskyy reminded the world. “Yet there is no ceasefire because Russia refuses.”

The war’s impact has rippled far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Zelenskyy referenced the political killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, after fleeing the violence in Ukraine. “She was brutally killed with a knife here in America, the very country where she was seeking refuge from Russia’s war,” he said, as reported by The Associated Press. He also alluded to the attempted assassination of President Trump in 2024, suggesting that violence and instability are becoming increasingly global phenomena.

One of Zelenskyy’s most sobering messages was about the pace of technological change in warfare. According to AP, he warned that “weapons and especially drones are evolving faster than our ability to defend ourselves.” Drones, once the domain of powerful militaries, are now being deployed by “tens of thousands of people who know how to professionally kill using drones.” He noted that even countries with limited resources—such as North Korea, which recently tested a tactical drone—can now develop dangerous weapons. “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 systems.”

Zelenskyy echoed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call for global rules on the use of artificial intelligence in weapons, arguing that it is “just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.” He warned that failing to act now could have disastrous consequences: “Stopping Russia now is cheaper than wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone carrying a nuclear warhead.”

Ukraine, for its part, is not standing still. Zelenskyy revealed that his country is producing drones capable of flying 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers—drones that have already been used against Russia. He spoke of a new security architecture, with more than 30 countries joining a coalition to support Ukraine. “We have decided to open up for arms exports—and these are powerful systems tested in a real war when every international institution failed,” he said.

Yet, Zelenskyy cautioned, military hardware alone will not guarantee peace. He called on all UN member nations to condemn Russia’s actions and to provide more than just “political gestures.” He specifically highlighted Moldova’s vulnerability to Russian interference, urging the European Union to offer “funding and energy support—not just words or political gestures.” As The New York Times reported, he stressed, “Europe cannot afford to lose Moldova, too.”

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Russian officials rejected the notion that Moscow is weak. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, told the BBC, “The thesis that Ukraine can fight something back, we believe it erroneous.” He dismissed the idea of Russia as a “paper tiger,” insisting instead that Russia is “a bear”—and, as he quipped, “a paper bear did not exist.”

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN gathering, though few expect a breakthrough. As conflict grinds on, Zelenskyy’s message was unmistakable: the world stands at a crossroads, and the decisions made now will shape the future of international security. “Peace depends on all of us, on the United Nations,” he concluded. “So don’t stay silent while Russia keeps dragging this war on. Please speak out and condemn it. People are waiting for action.”

With these words, Zelenskyy left the assembly with a challenge and a warning—the outcome of which may determine not just the fate of Ukraine, but the security architecture of Europe and beyond.