Donald Trump is facing backlash after inviting Russian president Vladimir Putin to a December G20 meeting in Miami, for what would be his second US visit since the war began.
"It's clearly, I think, the wrong path to normalise people who are starting wars, who are going against the UN charter, who are killing and giving orders to kill civilians," said the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, speaking to Sky News.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Wednesday it would be an opportunity for Putin to engage with other world leaders and that the US hopes he will accepted.
The Kremlin said Russia was "grateful and appreciative” for the invitation and will “make a decision”.
It comes after a report in El Mundo that the CIA has warned of a Russian plan to attack Spain, France or Italy using sea drones.
European foreign ministries were issued a detailed report from the agency after CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow.
Concerns are growing that Putin could seek to ramp up Russia’s targeting of Nato countries in Europe as it looks to prod the western alliance’s defences.
Read MoreRubio concerned Ukraine war could spread as Russia harries UK and allies
Senior Nato commander warns Putin is becoming more cavalier and open to risk as Ukraine war drags on
How Ukraine’s devastating attacks on Putin’s oil refineries brought the war to Russia’s doorstep
Key Points
- Six killed in Russian attack on farm in Kharkiv region
- CIA warns Russia planning to attack Spain, France or Italy - report
- US invites Putin to attend G20 summit in December
- Nato aircraft deployed over Poland and Romania amid Russian strikes on Ukraine
- Russian attacks in Kyiv kill two as Zelensky calls for peace at UN
- Ukraine sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea
US to provide 'critical but limited' capabilities to Nato as Europeans step up, said top commander
15:27 , Alex CroftThe US would continue to provide "critical but more limited capabilities" to Nato as Europeans take up a greater role in defending the continent, the alliance’s top commander has said.
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, made the comments over the phone to Reuters news agency en route to a change of command ceremony at a NATO headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, where a British army general will take over from a US Navy vice admiral.
Ukraine signs drone deal with Finland
14:56 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he had signed a “drone deal” with Finnish president Alexander Stubb, as Kyiv seeks to combine its technical expertise with the industrial capacity of other countries.
Zelensky met Mr Stubb and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre in New York.
“And today we just signed a Drone Deal with Alex (Stubb) – an important step for jointly protecting our people and an even stronger partnership between our countries,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Krasnodar governor declares state of emergency over Ukraine drone attacks on grain
14:25 , Alex CroftThe governor of Russia's southern Krasnodar region, a major agricultural producer, has declared a state of emergency over Ukrainian drone attacks that have inhibited the export of grain, a move which allows those affected to receive compensation.
Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on the other side's grain vessels in the Black Sea in recent months, sending global prices higher.
Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev, announcing the state of emergency on Wednesday, said that "massive attacks" on logistics infrastructure had caused the suspension of port operations and disruptions to shipping in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.
Agricultural producers, he said, were unable to sell much of their yields, leading to an oversupply on the domestic grain market.
Novorossiysk, a major port city in Krasnodar, is a frequent target of Ukrainian drone strikes and a major outlet for Russian oil, oil products and grain exports, among other commodities.
Krasnodar region harvested 11.4 million metric tons of grain and pulses this year, nearly 2 million tons more than in 2025.
The Kremlin said this week that there had been further diplomatic contacts about a proposal by Turkey for the safe passage of grain via the Black Sea, and that Russia was finding alternate routes for its grain exports in the meantime.
Full report: Russian strikes kill 8 in Ukraine as the UN debates how to end the war
13:55 , Alex CroftRussian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine overnight killed at least eight civilians, officials said Thursday, as Moscow’s 4½-year-long invasion of its neighbor grinds on despite renewed appeals for a settlement at this week’s U.N. General Assembly.
A strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region killed six agricultural workers and wounded 12 others, Interior Minister Ihor Vyhivskyi said. An attack on the capital Kyiv killed a man and a woman, he said, while officials in the southern port of Odesa also reported a major bombardment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed in a speech at the United Nations late Wednesday for countries to starve Russia of revenue through sanctions and trade bans, denying Moscow the money it needs to prolong the war. He and other leaders at previous U.N. general assemblies have sought to pressure Moscow into giving up its ambitions in Ukraine.
Read more here:
Russian strikes kill 8 in Ukraine as the UN debates how to end the war
Iranian and Ukrainian foreign ministers hold meeting on sidelines of UN
13:27 , Alex CroftThe Iranian and Ukrainian foreign ministers held a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
It is the first such meeting since tensions rose in July following a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea.
Russia has invited Kim Jong Un to visit the country, the Tass news agency said
13:00 , Alex CroftRussia has extended an official invitation to visit the country to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a deputy foreign minister has said according to the TASS state news agency.
Moscow and Pyongyang have drawn markedly closer in recent years, with North Korea sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine in 2024 and deepening military cooperation under a mutual defence pact.
Watch in full: Zelensky warns against use of AI
12:31 , Alex CroftCIA warns Russia planning to attack Spain, France or Italy - report
12:07 , Alex CroftThe CIA has warned European governments of Russian plans to attack Spain, France or Italy using sea drones, according to a report in Spanish outlet El Mundo.
Foreign ministries in the three countries were warned in a report that followed CIA director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow
A source told the newspaper: "They will use drones launched from the sea, concealed in a container on a ship. It is not difficult at all.”
France, Spain and Italy are being targeted because they are holding elections next year, the report said, with Moscow potentially looking to sow political division as right-wing political forces, that are softer in their stance towards Russia, surge.
The attacks would not be designed to cause major damage, but instead to disrupt logistics,such as by shutting down and airport, or to demonstrate weaknesses in Europe’s defences far from the Russian border, says El Mundo.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that European countries assisting Ukraine by providing weapons are legitimate targets of Russian attack.
US and Indian top diplomats discuss Russia sanctions bill signed by Trump
11:49 , Alex CroftUS secretary of state Marco Rubio and Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar discussed on Wednesday US measures that could be leveled against countries that engage economically with Russia and Iran.
Last week, Trump signed the bill called "Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," named after deceased South Carolina Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham.
Rubio and Jaishankar "discussed sanctions that could be leveled against states that engage economically with Russia and Iran," the State Department said in a statement after their meeting in New York.
Jaishankar wrote on X he "reiterated India's interests and concerns with regard to SRIA."
India has previously told Washington that new measures to levy tariffs over the purchase of Russian oil could impact bilateral ties.
Poland suspects Russia behind fire at Starlink satellite station
10:35 , Alex CroftA fire broke out on Wednesday evening at a ground-based Starlink satellite communications station in central Poland providing connectivity for the region, including Ukraine, deputy prime minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said.
He added that the systems were now operational.
Poland has been on heightened alert for acts of sabotage since Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. Russia has repeatedly denied any such action.
"The fire engulfed the power station and the generator; it is clear that this act of sabotage was deliberately designed to disable the station — effectively cutting off the internet connection... and disrupting internet access for various institutions, including the Ukrainian military," he said.
"While everything is operational today, we must recognise —as Prime Minister Tusk recently noted — that this is an element of hybrid warfare."
He added that while it was not established that Russia was responsible for the fire, "many signs suggest this aligns with Russia’s new doctrine of attack".
Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine sent to South Korea, Zelensky says
10:11 , Alex CroftUkraine has transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia to South Korea, Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” the Ukrainian president said, revealing that the prisoners had left Ukrainian custody.
South Korea stopped short of publicly confirming the transfer.
“It is difficult to confirm whether the individuals have been handled, the timing and route, or the specific details about the consultations between the two countries,” a foreign ministry official said, citing the issue of their safety.
Maroosha Muzaffar writes:
Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine sent to South Korea, Zelensky says
Czech air force says fighter jets were scrambled over Poland
09:45 , Alex CroftCzech air force JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets were scrambled overnight for combat air patrol over Poland, the Czech army said on Thursday.
The army said on X that there was no need to use force during the mission and the jets have returned to their home base.
Six killed in Russian attack on farm in Kharkiv region
09:13 , Alex CroftSix people have been killed in a Russian attack on a farm in Ukraine’s northern Kharkiv region early on Thursday, the region’s governor has said.
Another 12 people were injured in the attack, according to authorities.
"Two men and four women have been killed,” Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv regional military administration, said earlier on Telegram. “We currently know of eight people who have been injured – they are farm workers."
He later revised the injury toll to 12.
Watch: Don't weaken sanctions on Russian oligarchs, Zelensky pleads with world leaders
08:42 , Alex CroftGerman minister called for ceasefire starting around the Black Sea
08:24 , Alex CroftGerman foreign minister Johann Wadephul called for a full and immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, starting in the Black Sea, to safeguard grain and food supplies.
"Ukraine had a very good grain harvest this year. But because of the Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports, it can't be delivered to the world.
“Russia is thereby exacerbating hunger and starvation worldwide," he said in a statement published on Thursday.
Kremlin accuses Andy Burnham of ‘stoking anti-Russian sentiment’ in UN speech
08:00 , Shweta SharmaMoscow has rebuked prime minister Andy Burnham over a UN General Assembly speech in which he accused Russia of spreading falsehoods, arguing that his comments will do nothing to ease tensions across Europe.
Addressing the summit on Tuesday, Burnham announced London would establish a new National Centre for Information Defence, singling out Moscow over what he termed disinformation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterised the approach taken by Burnham and other European nations as fundamentally flawed.
"Well, the British prime minister said nothing new. That is the first point. The second is that stoking anti-Russian sentiment and fostering an atmosphere of total Russophobia is what Britain is doing. And now, presumably in unison with Britain, the Germans, the French and a number of other European states are doing the same thing," said Peskov.
"From our point of view, this is an utterly short-sighted policy. It in no way brings us any closer to any steps that might, in the long term, lead to a reduction in tensions and de-escalation on the European continent."
The prime minister unveiled plans for a new National Centre for Information Defence to tackle Russian information warfare as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Russia has previously been accused of using illicitly acquired documents about UK-US trade talks to try to influence the 2019 contest.
The new unit is initially being led out of the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with the new centre working alongside intelligence agencies, government departments, the police and social media companies.
He told world leaders that the UK and its allies had been subjected to an “industrial-scale assault” by hostile states, including Russia, to “prey on people’s fear”.
The prime minister said misinformation had worsened in recent years, accusing Vladimir Putin’s agencies of interfering with the 2019 general election and falsifying newspaper articles.
“It is now ten years since Brexit, my country has lived through the destruction, and it has given us a unique perspective that I want to share with you today,” he told the UN.
He added: “In recent years we have seen an industrial-scale assault by hostile actors on the information environment in the UK and many of our allies. Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people's fears.
“I know this is a shared challenge. So we are going to use our experience in the UK – and the fact that we have already been through this shock – to help other countries.”
Kremlin accuses Andy Burnham of ‘stoking anti-Russian sentiment’
Zelensky says Russia launched ballistic missile strike on Kyiv as people were sleeping
07:01 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched a ballistic missile strike on Kyiv as he met members of the US Congress to discuss sanctions against Moscow.
The Ukrainian president said the overnight attack targeted Kyiv and civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a maternity hospital, energy infrastructure and logistics.
“As people were sleeping, flashes from explosions lit up the sky. Once again, the main targets of their strike were Kyiv and civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, a maternity hospital, energy infrastructure, and logistics,” he said on X.
Two people were reported killed and others injured, Zelensky said, adding that emergency services were working to rescue people trapped inside one of the buildings.
He called for ballistic missile interceptors and stronger sanctions against Russia and those helping it finance the war, saying Moscow would not end the conflict without greater pressure.
Today, the Russians launched a ballistic missile strike on Kyiv just as we were meeting with members of Congress and discussing the Lindsey Graham law and the need to strengthen sanctions. Russia will not end this war without pressure. As people were sleeping, flashes from… pic.twitter.com/VocAQIjaB9
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 24, 2026
Fire breaks out at a facility in Russia's Krasnodar region, authorities say
06:46 , Shweta SharmaA fire has broken out on the premises of an industrial facility in Russia's Krasnodar region as a result of falling drone debris, local authorities said on Thursday.
No one was injured, and the fire is being extinguished, they said.
US and Indian top diplomats discuss Russia sanctions bill signed by Trump
06:30 , Shweta SharmaUS secretary of state Marco Rubio and Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar discussed on Wednesday US measures that could be leveled against countries that engage economically with Russia and Iran.
Last week, Trump signed the bill called "Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," named after deceased South Carolina Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham.
Rubio and Jaishankar "discussed sanctions that could be leveled against states that engage economically with Russia and Iran," the State Department said in a statement after their meeting in New York.
Jaishankar wrote on X he "reiterated India's interests and concerns with regard to SRIA."
India has previously told Washington that new measures to levy tariffs over the purchase of Russian oil could impact bilateral ties.
Ukraine signs drone deal with Finland
06:00 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he had signed a “drone deal” with Finnish president Alexander Stubb, as Kyiv seeks to combine its technical expertise with the industrial capacity of other countries.
Zelensky met Mr Stubb and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre in New York.
“And today we just signed a Drone Deal with Alex (Stubb) – an important step for jointly protecting our people and an even stronger partnership between our countries,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
US invites Putin to attend G20 summit in December
05:30 , Shweta SharmaUS secretary of state Marco Rubio said the Trump administration had invited Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 meeting in Miami in December.
The Kremlin said Russia would consider the invitation.
Rubio spoke following his meeting Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN general assembly.
He said Washington remained open to engaging with Russia on the war in Ukraine, despite stalled efforts to bring an end to the conflict.
“We’ve invited President Putin to the G20. We think it’s an opportunity for him to engage not just with the president but with other world leaders. We hope that’s an invitation he’ll accept,” Rubio said.
Nato aircraft deployed over Poland and Romania amid Russian strikes on Ukraine
05:11 , Shweta SharmaNato aircraft were deployed over Polish and Romanian airspace overnight and on Wednesday morning as Russia launched another wave of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 161 drones, including 82 jet-powered drones, and an unspecified number of Banderol cruise missiles.
Poland’s Armed Forces Operational Command said Polish fighter jets were scrambled “to ensure safety” amid Russian strikes using jet-powered drones against targets in western Ukraine.
The alert lasted about an hour, with Polish authorities saying no violation of Polish airspace was recorded.
Romania also scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after an aerial target was detected near the Ukrainian border.
Romania’s defence ministry said the aircraft responded to a target manoeuvring near Valkove, on Ukrainian territory, close to the Romanian border. The alert ended about an hour later, with authorities reporting no incursion into Romanian airspace.
Russian attacks in Kyiv kill two as Zelensky calls for peace at UN
04:50 , Shweta SharmaRussian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, as debris crashed down on several districts, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Klitschko, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said one of the dead had been in the parking lot of a maternity hospital. Three of the six injured were medical personnel and two of those hurt were in a serious condition. Part of the hospital facade was damaged, as was a nearby clinic.
Debris hit the ground in three districts of the capital and Klitschko said part of a residence had also been destroyed.
"In the Dniprovskyi district, debris fell into the yard of a private property," Klitschko wrote. "People may be trapped under rubble". He urged residents to remain in shelters.
Kyiv's military administration said a 16-storey residential building was damaged, along with private homes.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy decried the new Russian missile attack and said the strikes were recurring because of insufficient pressure on Moscow.
Ukraine's foreign minister holds talks with Iran's Araqchi amid tensions
04:22 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday he discussed ways of keeping tensions in check at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi.
Sybiha said on X the meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York was a follow-up to a telephone conversation the two held in July.
In more than 4-1/2 years of conflict with Russia, Ukraine has faced barrages of Iranian-designed drones. Kyiv has over that time developed technology to counter drone threats and offered its assistance to Middle Eastern countries facing strikes by Tehran.
"Diplomacy is about direct conversation, even in challenging circumstances," Sybiha wrote.
"Our conversation focused on mutual steps to prevent further aggravation of tensions between our countries. We agreed to keep existing channels of communication open."
Sybiha said the two ministers exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and Europe "as well as various tracks of ongoing peace efforts".
"I reiterated Ukraine's position in support of a sooner restoration of peace and stability in both our regions.
"It comes as a Ukrainian drone strike on an Iranian ship killed one sailor and injured another in July. Iran denounced the attack and threatened retaliation.
Ukraine sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea
03:55 , Shweta SharmaUkraine has sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, following months of consultations between Kyiv and Seoul after the soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk region in 2025.
"These guys are not easy to capture alive," he said. "One of them, when he realised he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself and he was shocked that fate didn't let him die. This is how they raise people in the North."
Following the soldiers' capture in Kursk in January 2025, South Korea urged Kyiv not to send them back to North Korea, where they could face persecution, and said it was willing to accept them if they wished to resettle in the South.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry did not directly confirm Zelenskyy's comments but said it had been consulting with Kyiv and other relevant parties to resolve the matter in a manner that respects the soldiers' free will and complies with international law and humanitarian principles.
The ministry said in a statement that it would not confirm details about the soldiers' "disposition, the timing or route of their transfer or specific contents of consultations" with Ukraine, calling it a sensitive matter concerning the safety of the soldiers and their families.
We can make winter painful for you too, Zelensky warns Russia
03:00 , Jane DaltonPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Moscow at the United Nations that Ukraine will strike back and make the coming winter deeply painful for Russia, if the two sides cannot agree a truce on energy attacks before the cold sets in.
Ukraine and its allies are racing to secure limited agreements on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping before winter, fearing renewed Russian strikes on power and heating 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," Zelensky told the UN General Assembly.
Although Russia has a far bigger arsenal of missiles which it has used to pound its enemy throughout the war, Ukraine has developed and used thousands of long-range drones to strike back at Russian warehouses, port infrastructure and oil refineries.
"That’s exactly why we say that de-escalation steps are needed before winter," Zelensky said.
Zelensky wants Chinese leader to put pressure on Putin
Thursday 24 September 2026 00:45 , Jane DaltonUkraine’s President Zelensky said he hoped to urge Chinese leader Xi Jinping to pressure Vladimir Putin into ending the war.
He told the UN General Assembly: “Unfortunately, we have not had a chance to speak directly with the leader of China, who is in who is in America today, but not here, and he is someone who can influence Russia too more than many many others can, and we would like him to want peace as much as we do in Ukraine.
“We believe the world has the power to make this happen.”
Watch: Zelensky warns against use of AI in war
Wednesday 23 September 2026 23:30 , Jane DaltonThe latest: Kremlin hits back at Burnham over 'disinformation' comments
Wednesday 23 September 2026 22:25 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin said on Wednesday that British prime minister Andy Burnham was unwise to stir up what they called anti-Russian sentiment, while pouring cold water on hopes of imminent peace talks with Ukraine.
Burnham told the United Nations on Tuesday that London would set up a new National Centre for Information Defence and singled out Moscow for particular criticism when it came to spreading what he called disinformation.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Britain of “stoking anti-Russian sentiment and fostering an atmosphere of total Russophobia”, likely in conjunction with France, Germany and other unnamed European states.
“From our point of view, this is an utterly short-sighted policy,” he said. “It in no way brings us any closer to any steps that might, in the long term, lead to a reduction in tensions and de-escalation on the European continent.”
Speaking ahead of a planned meeting in New York between US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, Peskov signalled that there were still no plans for high-level talks with either Washington or Kyiv to discuss a potential peace deal.
“Zelensky, if he wishes, may come to Moscow. The necessary security guarantees will be provided to him,” he said, as Putin launched another wave of drone attacks on Kyiv, killing two and injuring at least 22.
Drone attacks on Kyiv kill two people and wound 41
Wednesday 23 September 2026 21:21 , Jane DaltonRussia hammered Kyiv with drones in daylight attacks on Wednesday hours before Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
Two people were killed and 41 wounded in Ukraine's capital as the attack stretched into Wednesday afternoon.
Palls of black smoke floated above the city following the latest in what have been daily Russian attacks that torment Ukrainian civilians.
The drones set off fires and damaged buildings in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine overnight, authorities said.
“The Russians launch jet-powered Shaheds every hour, every hour against our cities, our economy, our infrastructure, our combat aircraft are fighting them 24/7,” Mr Zelensky told the General Assembly.
'The longer Putin can wage war, the more evil he will leave behind'
Wednesday 23 September 2026 20:18 , Jane DaltonThe longer Vladimir Putin can wage war, the more evil he will leave behind, President Zelensky has warned world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
Dubbing Russia's leader ‘Patient Zero’ - “the man from whom this war began” - Mr Zelensky said the Kremlin leader was turning the war into the largest war in Europe since World War Two.
“But the longer Putin is able to wage war, the more evil he will leave behind in this war,” he said.
“Today, nothing in war works the same way it did, by the way, in 2022.
“Except the courage of people, everything has changed, and who knows whether courage will still work the same way in the future.”
Diplomacy and strength needed, says Zelensky
Wednesday 23 September 2026 20:15 , Jane DaltonUkraine is building its security so that it can help other countries get the same protection, President Zelensky said.
“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.
If Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy system and heating, steps are needed before winter, he said.
“Now we need diplomacy and we need strength.”
Watch: 'We choose not to die or lose our freedom'
Wednesday 23 September 2026 20:01 , Jane Dalton'Russia creates threat every hour to make life harder and stop children from studying'
Wednesday 23 September 2026 19:44 , Jane DaltonMoscow is using tens of thousands of missiles and drones against Ukraine, Mr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly.
“Russia has already used more than 2,100 missiles of different types again against us, against Ukraine, our people, and our children,” he said.
“More than 950 of them were ballistic missiles. In eight months of this year, Russia used 63,000 attack drones of different types against Ukraine, our people, and more than 7,700 of them were jet-powered shaheds, truly destructive and very dangerous battles.
“Just think about it. The Russians launch jet-powered shaheds every hour, every hour against our cities, our economy, our infrastructure.
“Our combat aircraft are fighting them 24/7, and this is part of Russia's strategy to create a new threat every hour, to make life harder for the economy, and to disrupt people's lives and to stop children from being able to study just to study at school.
“Would your country survive if, God forbid, you had to face some something like this Ukraine has?”
Russia tricks citizens of 47 countries into fighting, Zelensky warns
Wednesday 23 September 2026 19:34 , Jane DaltonRussia tricks citizens of 47 countries into fighting Ukraine, President Zelensky has told world leaders.
“We have had more than just North Korea POWs. We know that,” he said.
People from Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan, South Africa and many others were being recruited to fight, he said.
“And from time to time we receive requests to send to send particular POWs back cold, and through their videos from our drones, we also see people dying on the battlefield, who are not Russians, people from your countries, 47 countries, who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks.
“So I want to speak directly to every representative of these 47 countries.
“You know what Russia is doing with your people, your your citizens, take care of them, and do not let them end up on another front.
“Do not let Putin drag you into this war.”
Do not let Russia cover up its shame or “pay for his madness with the lives of your people”, President Zelensky said.
“Limit his room to act. Limit his money. Limit his war. And please, everyone here, do not be the last to join those who defend life. Be the first to say we guarantee security.”
Watch: Ukrainian president reminds world leaders not to loosen sanctions on oligarchs
Wednesday 23 September 2026 19:28 , Jane DaltonKeep choking off trade with Russia, Zelensky urges world leaders
Wednesday 23 September 2026 19:23 , Jane DaltonPresident Zelensky has urged world leaders to keep choking off Russia's revenues and impede its war efforts, telling the UN General Assembly that "Russia's revenues must remain a target".
"When someone gives Russia more money through trade, they give this war more time. And that is exactly why we insist on limiting trade with the aggressor, and why we are burning Russia's revenues ourselves," he said.
Russia gets its turn Saturday to address the assembly. President Vladimir Putin hasn't traveled to the gathering in years, sending Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov instead.
"Something always seems to stop Putin from saying, 'That's it. Enough, Peace,"' Mr Zelensky said.
"Can you even imagine him without war? He is 'Patient Zero', the one from whom war keeps spreading further. ... 'Patient Zero' must be stopped."
Zelensky warns against use of AI in war
Wednesday 23 September 2026 19:21 , Jane DaltonUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned world leaders against the use of AI in war.
In a speech at the UN General Assembly, he said: “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 will begin decide what happens on the battlefield, and we need peace before we reach that point.”
He added: “If you listen to some of the biggest believers in the development of AI, they say today AI still remains mostly digital. But one day AI will move from the digital world to shaping atoms.
“And when that happens, we had better be at peace. We certainly need to end the wars that already exist. Ukraine deserves security, just as all of you do, every country and every nation. “
We choose not to die or lose our freedom, says Zelensky
Wednesday 23 September 2026 19:15 , Jane DaltonUkrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has told world leaders in a speech at the UN General Assembly: “Ukrainians did not choose this war. We choose not to die, not to lose our country, our families, not to lose our independence, our freedom, and we are defending ourselves."
