President Volodymyr Zelensky questioned NATO’s ability to guarantee Ukraine’s security—but praised Donald Trump after the U.S. president unexpectedly declared his belief that Russia can be defeated.
Addressing the United Nations on Wednesday, September 24, Zelensky suggested that even NATO membership might not be enough to secure Ukraine in future:
We had a good meeting with President Trump, and together, we can change a lot.
The president added that Ukraine counts on Europe and the United States for support.
Trump’s comments, calling Russia a “paper tiger,” mark a major shift in rhetoric, by suggesting Kyiv could regain all its territory, and even potentially going beyond that.
Zelensky also warned that Europe cannot afford to lose strategically located Moldova to Russian influence, as Belarus and Georgia have moved closer to Moscow. He highlighted the dangers of autonomous drones and AI in modern warfare, saying the only real security guarantees are “friends and weapons,”—stressing that Ukraine has had to ramp up its military production to defend itself.
