Zelenskiy defends the need to rearm at the UN: The only guarantee of security is friends and weapons'

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy defended the need to rearm amid what he called the most destructive arms race in human history at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, arguing that The only guarantee of security is friends and weapons. In a speech to the 193 members of the body gathered at the opening of the 80th session, Zelenskiy reiterated his warning that Ukraine is only the first step in a broader Russian offensive against Europe."

"That's why [in Ukraine] we invest in defense. Zelenskiy stressed: Even being part of a long-standing military alliance doesn't automatically mean you are safe. He cited the cases of Poland, where several Russian drones were detected flying over its airspace two weeks ago, and Moldova, which he presented as the next piece on the Russian chessboard and one that Europe cannot afford to lose."

Rearmament is framed as necessary because only friends and weapons guarantee security. Ukraine is described as the initial target of a broader Russian offensive across Europe. A recent shift in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump has increased optimism in Kyiv. Multilateral responses from the UN are portrayed as inadequate, with Gaza cited as an example of decades of statements without action. Investment in practical defense is prioritized over reliance on alliances, with examples including Russian drones over Poland and the perceived threat to Moldova.

Read at english.elpais.com