Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the international community to maintain economic and military pressure on Russia, arguing that Moscow's revenues remain a legitimate target and that any continued trade with Russia effectively prolongs the conflict. His address came as the war enters another winter, with both sides trading heavy drone and missile strikes.
Zelenskyy directly questioned the Kremlin's commitment to ending the war, portraying Vladimir Putin as a leader who seeks to expand the conflict rather than pursue peace. He accused the Russian army of recruiting fighters from 47 countries, citing nationals from Ghana, Nepal, and India among those fighting against Ukraine.
“Putin is always looking for someone who can help him kill more, kill more people for every kilometre of land, take more territory and take another country instead of simply stopping and running his own country,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader also highlighted Russia's deepening military cooperation with North Korea, noting that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting against Ukraine had recently been transferred to South Korea. This development underscores the increasingly international dimension of the conflict.
Winter warfare and drone diplomacy
Zelenskyy warned that Ukrainians should brace for another difficult winter, and suggested that Kyiv would respond to Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure with attacks on Russian heating and power facilities. “Ukrainians understand that this winter could be very harsh for us, but in response we will have no choice but to make it painful for Russia too,” he said.
Drones were a central theme of his address. Zelenskyy said Russia had used 63,000 attack drones of various types against Ukraine this year alone. At the same time, he promoted Ukraine's growing role in drone technology, announcing a significant drone deal with Finland, a security agreement involving drones with Australia, and preparations for a further agreement with Canada.
The war continues to produce large-scale drone and missile attacks on both sides. Russian strikes hit Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday, while Russia claimed its air defences intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones. Before his UN speech, Zelenskyy posted on X about the Russian drone strikes on Kyiv, reporting two people killed and 24 wounded, a figure later revised upward by local authorities to more than 40.
Zelenskyy's call for sustained pressure comes as the EU debates the future of its Russia sanctions. Recent discussions have seen some oligarchs delisted, a move that Kyiv has warned against. Ukraine has repeatedly urged the EU to keep individuals like Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman under sanctions, arguing that political delistings undermine the bloc's credibility. Latvia has also voiced concerns that such deals risk normalising Russia.
Zelenskyy's address at the UN follows his earlier push for a de-escalation plan, and he has been coordinating with Western allies, including former US President Donald Trump, to seek an end to the war before winter. However, Moscow remains dismissive of a simple ceasefire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that a pause without a broader settlement would only allow Ukraine and its allies to rearm.
As the conflict grinds on, the human and material costs continue to mount. The coming months will test both Ukraine's resilience and the international community's resolve to maintain pressure on Moscow.
