Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says world is in ‘most destructive arms race in history’

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Picture: Richard Drew/AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told global leaders 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 Russian President 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 UN General Assembly that weak international institutions including the United Nations have not been able to stop wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, and international law cannot help nations survive.

“Weapons decide who survives,” the Ukrainian leader said.

“There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons.” 

Mr Zelenskyy spoke from the podium of the vast assembly chamber a day after he met with US President Donald Trump, who expressed support for Ukraine’s efforts and criticised Russia.

Mr Trump said on Tuesday that he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, a dramatic shift from the US leader’s repeated calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the war sparked by Mr Putin’s February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbour.

Mr Zelenskyy did not comment on the surprise US pivot, saying only that he had “a good meeting” with Mr 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 UN member nations to condemn Russia while it “keeps dragging this war on”.

If Mr Putin is not 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.

Mr Zelenskyy said neighbouring Moldova is defending itself again from Russian interference and should not be allowed to move towards 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, Mr Zelenskyy said, weapons and especially drones “are evolving faster than our ability to defend ourselves”.

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, Mr 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 systems.” 

Mr Zelenskyy echoed UN 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 Mr 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 centres 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,” Mr Zelenskyy added.

“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 does not have “big fat missiles dictators love to show off in parades” but it is producing drones that can fly 2,000 to 3,000 kilometres which have been used against Russia.

Mr 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”.