Zelenskyy: Cheaper to stop Russia than build massive bunkers UN General Assembly

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned world leaders that international institutions are “too weak” to stop wars, urging more countries to join Ukraine’s security coalition and step up pressure on Russia as this was "cheaper" than building infrastructure to shield against Moscow's attacks.

In his address to the UN General Assembly on September 24, he argued that international law does not work without the backing of “powerful friends” and, ultimately, military backup, Caliber.Az reports, citing UN News.

He noted that those with “weapons decide who survives,” he said, calling it a “terrible” but unavoidable reality.

“Ukrainians are peaceful people, but they are people who want to live freely in their own independent country. That’s why we invest in defence. For many nations, there is simply no other way left.”

Zelenskyy further warned that weak international responses were accelerating a global arms race, now reshaped by artificial intelligence.

“Stopping this war now and within the global arms race is cheaper than building underground kindergartens or massive bunkers for critical infrastructure later,” he said.

He also pointed out that stopping Russia now is cheaper than wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone carrying a nuclear warhead.

While he noted that more than 40 countries are already part of Ukraine’s coalition, he urged nations to act collectively to end the war.

“Dear leaders, we are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history because this time, it includes artificial intelligence,” he said. “We need global rules now for how AI can be used in weapons. And this is just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear weapons," he addressed the audience of other world leaders.

By Nazrin Sadigova