Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday warned that Russia's "ridiculous and never-ending war" could spread to other parts of Europe, calling
for greater economic pressure on Moscow to force a peace agreement before another deadly winter. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy highlighted the wider effects of the war, including grain shortages, fuel prices and the rapid development of increasingly sophisticated drone technology. He also warned about the potential use of artificial intelligence in warfare. "As early as next year, there is a real possibility that AI, not only people, will decide what happens on the battlefield," Zelenskyy said. "We need peace before we reach that point." Zelenskyy Attacks Russia's War Effort Zelenskyy said Ukraine had taken prisoners of war from 47 countries who had been fighting for Russia as a result of what he described as "deception and tricks". He claimed Russia had suffered more than 248,000 battlefield casualties over the past eight months, saying Ukraine had "video confirmation for every one of these losses". He also pointed to pressure on Russia's oil industry, describing it as the country's "pride". "For the first time in Russia's history, we hear that its oil industry – which is its pride – is running out of fumes," he said. "Oil itself is not Ukraine's target, not our target, not gasoline or diesel, not factories or ports … Our target is Russia's ability to finance this war, to drag it out, to make it more brutal and more destructive."
Zelenskyy: "For the first time in Russia’s history, we now hear that its pride, its oil industry, is running on fumes. Our target is Russia’s ability to finance this war, to drag it out, to make it more brutal and more destructive. Russia’s finances and Russia’s production are… pic.twitter.com/vr4dxNs6yP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 23, 2026
"Russia's finances and Russia's production are what must be stopped if Putin is to be stopped," he added.
Zelenskyy also referred to a social media post by US President Donald Trump calling for the war in Ukraine to end. "I do not know a single world leader who would say otherwise … except one man," he said, before naming Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy said Russia had captured just over 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles) of Ukrainian territory this year, while Ukraine had liberated a significant part of it.
"Russia is a country that already has 17 million square kilometres of its own land without any Ukrainian territory, by the way," he said. "So to add another 1,000 square kilometres, Putin is paying with 248 people for every kilometre."
North Korean Troops
Zelenskyy also criticised North Korea's support for Russia. "The leader of North Korea sent his troops to Russia to support the weak points of the Russian army," he said.
He questioned why North Korean soldiers should be losing their lives in the conflict. "Why should Koreans give their lives in a war against Ukraine?" he asked.
Zelenskyy said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was using North Koreans "like currency" in return for improved ballistic missiles and upgraded drone capabilities.
Zelensky:
We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war in Ukraine — Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan, South Africa, and many, many others.
I want to speak directly to every representative of these 47 countries: you… pic.twitter.com/biZOMLBUk4— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 23, 2026
Warning Over Putin's Ambitions
Zelenskyy dismissed Russian claims that Putin would seize Ukraine's Donetsk region within months, saying similar promises had repeatedly failed to materialise.
"This is probably the 17th or 18th time he has made this promise," he said. "It's always the same. Just a few more months. And then the deadline moves again."
He said Donetsk was not the only Ukrainian territory sought by Putin.
"Even our Donetsk region is not enough for him," Zelenskyy said. "He wants more of our cities – Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and others."
Drone Attacks and Missile Defence
Zelenskyy said Russia had fired 7,700 "jet-powered Shahed" drones at Ukraine and continued to launch more. "The Russians launch jet-powered Shaheds every hour … against our cities, our economy, our infrastructure," he said. "And this is part of Russia's strategy," he added, saying the attacks were intended "to make life harder for the economy and to disrupt people's lives and to stop children from being able to study".
Ukraine had successfully tested four new jet-powered interceptor drones, Mr Zelenskyy said, adding: "We are scaling up production."
He also spoke about Freya, a Ukrainian-designed anti-ballistic missile programme involving Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Spain and the Netherlands.
Zelenskyy said Poland had been invited to join the programme and that Ukraine was consulting other allied governments. "We remain open to every country that can contribute to building protection against ballistic missiles," he said.
Zelenskyy Warns Over AI Weapons
Zelenskyy called for the rapid development of weapons using artificial intelligence to be slowed, warning that such technology had already become a global threat.
"We need to slow it down before we reach the next stage because as early as next year, there is already a real possibility that AI – not only people – will begin deciding what happens on the battlefield," he said. He again called for peace "before we reach that point".
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had information that citizens of 47 countries had joined Russia's war against Ukraine, with many having been victims of what he called Moscow's "deception and tricks". He named Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan and South Africa among those countries, in addition to North Korea.
Some of those recruits had died on the battlefield, he said. "I want to speak directly to every representative of these 47 countries," Zelenskyy said. "You know what Russia is doing with your people. Take care of them and do not let them end up on another front."
"Do not let Putin drag you into this war," he added.
Zelenskyy ended his address by thanking countries that "stand with us".
"Ukraine deserves security just as all of you do – every country and every nation," he said. "Do not be the last to join those who defend life. Be the first to say we guarantee security."
"Thank you to everyone who helps and thank you to everyone who stands with us [and] with our people, with our children, with Ukraine," he concluded.
