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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says world is in 'most destructive arms race in human history'

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".

September 25, 2025 / 07:28 IST
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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 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 on Wednesday that weak international institutions including the United Nations haven't been able to stop wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, and international law can't help nations survive.

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"Weapons decide who survives," the Ukrainian leader said. "There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons." Zelenskyy spoke from the podium of the vast assembly chamber a day after he met with President Donald Trump, who expressed support for Ukraine's efforts and criticised Russia. Trump said 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 President Vladimir Putin's February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbour.

Zelenskyy did not comment on the surprise US pivot, saying only that he had "a good meeting" with Trump and with many other "strong leaders".