UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told global leaders Wednesday 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 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.

“What can any nation living in war expect from the UN or the global system? For decades, just declarations upon declarations. Even everything happening in Gaza remains without a solution,” he said.

“Look at Israel. Almost two years have passed and the hostages still haven’t been freed. They should be freed, but even this hasn’t happened yet.”

“For years, there have been no real solutions to other threats — whether chemical weapons or hunger used as a weapon.”

“Weapons decide who survives,” the Ukrainian leader said. “There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons.”

Zelensky 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 criticized 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 neighbor.

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

© The Times of Israel