Zelensky's warning to UN: Russia could attack you next

Ukraine's president cautions that AI drone threat means the world has entered the 'most destructive arms race in history'

- ALEX CROFT

Vladimir Putin is expanding his war into Europe and no country should feel safe from the Russian threat, Volodymyr Zelensky warned in an impassioned speech to the UN General Assembly.

The Ukrainian leader made a plea for countries worldwide to band together and called on the UN to help bring a halt to “the most destructive arms race in human history”, as he took to the stage one day after Donald Trump’s hour-long speech on Tuesday.

“Putin will keep driving the war forward, wider and deeper,” Mr Zelensky said. “We told you before: Ukraine is only the first. Now, Russian drones are already flying across Europe, and Russian operations are already spreading across countries.

“Putin wants to continue this war by expanding it, and no one can feel safe right now.”

Nato countries have rallied together against repeated Russian incursions into European airspace recently.

Earlier this month, around 20 drones entered Polish airspace; last week, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian territory, where they remained for 12 minutes; and there were several other smaller-scale incursions, including into Romania.