Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on world powers on Wednesday (September 24) to work together to stop Russia's war in his country, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to expand the fighting beyond Ukraine.

He said in a speech to the 193-member United Nations General Assembly that the war had helped unleash the most destructive arms race in history and that Ukraine was moving to open up the export of its weapons to allies.

"The facts are simple, stopping this war ... is cheaper than building underground kindergartens or massive bunkers for critical infrastructure later," he said.

He pointed to alleged airspace violations by Russian drones and fighter jets in NATO's Poland and Estonia as evidence that Putin was testing new boundaries in the war in Ukraine.

"Now Russian drones are already flying across Europe, and Russian operations are already spreading across countries," he said. "Putin wants to continue this war by expanding it, and no one can feel safe right now."

Zelenskiy said Ukraine had decided to begin exporting its weapons to allies.

"You don't need to start this race from scratch. We're ready to share what has already proven itself," he said, referring to defense production.

"We are ready to make our modern weapons become your modern security. We have decided to open up arms export. And these are powerful systems tested in a real war when every international institution failed," he said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UNITED NATIONS (SEPTEMBER 24, 2025) (UNTV - Access all)

1. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, AT LECTERN AT U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history - because this time, it includes artificial intelligence. And if there are no real security guarantees except friends and weapons, and if the world can't respond even 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? We need global rules now for how AI can be used in weapons, and this is just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear weapons."

3. ZELENSKIY

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"None of this would have happened if Putin had not started this full-scale aggression, full-scale war. And every year that this war goes on, weapons become even more deadly. And only Russia deserves to be blamed for this."

5. ZELENSKIY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

Even being part of a long-standing military alliance doesn't automatically mean you are safe. Just recently, 19 simple Russian drones violated Polish airspace and only four were shut down. Luckily, they were not Shahed, or even worse. Otherwise, the results would have been horrific. Estonia had to call a U.N. Security Council meeting for the first time in history because Russian fighter jets deliberately entered its airspace."

7. ZELENSKIY

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"The facts are simple - stopping this war now and with it, the global arms race, is cheaper than building underground kindergartens or massive bunkers for critical infrastructure later. Stopping Putin now is cheaper than trying to protect every port and every ship from terrorists with sea drones. Stopping Russia now is cheaper than wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone carrying a nuclear warhead. 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. 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. And now Russian drones are already flying across Europe. And Russian operations are already spreading across countries. And Putin wants to continue this war by expanding it. And no one can feel safe right now. But first, we are now building a new security architecture for ourselves. More than 30 countries are already part of our coalition, and we are strengthening and launching joint weapons production with partners and defining financial commitments for defense in a way that could become a security model for any other nation. 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. Second, we are ready to make our modern weapons become your modern security. Your modern weapon. And we have decided to open up arms exports. And these are powerful systems tested in a real war when every international institution failed. And we are also ready to grow our defense production together with strong partners so that their protection is modern and reliable. You don't need to start this race from scratch. We're ready to share what has already proven itself in real defense."

9. ZELENSKIY

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English and Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"Yesterday, we had a good meeting with President Trump. And I also spoke with many other strong leaders, and together we can change a lot. Of course, of course, we are doing everything to make sure Europe truly helps. And of course, we count on the United States. I appreciate the support we are receiving. Yes, much depends on the G7 and G20, but in the end, peace depends on all of us - on the United Nations. So don't stay silent while Russia keeps dragging this war on. Please speak out and condemn it. Please join us in defending life and international law and order. People are waiting for action. Thank you so much. Slava Ukraini (Glory to Ukraine)."

11. UKRAINIAN DELEGATION APPLAUDING

12. ZELENSKIY WALKING AWAY