Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised concerns about the evolution of artificial intelligence and the proliferation of drone technology as two major issues the Western world needs to address collectively.
Zelensky, who spoke Wednesday morning in front of the United Nations General Assembly, said the world is “living through the most destructive arms race in human history because this time, it includes artificial intelligence.” He noted that there are no current security guarantees regarding the use of AI for military purposes.
“If there are no real security guarantees except friends and weapons, and if the world can’t respond even to all threats, and if there is no strong platform for international security, will there be any place left on Earth that is still safe for people?” Zelensky 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.”
Zelensky discussed the quick evolution of drone warfare to demonstrate the speed at which military technology advances, emphasizing the need for such protocols and regulations.
“A few years from now might already be too late,” he said. “Ten years ago, war looked different. No one imagined that cheap drones could create dead zones, areas stretching for dozens of kilometers where nothing moves, no vehicles, no life. Now it’s drone reality, mass-produced, simple drones, and without AI yet.”
Kyiv has decided to offer its allies access to the drone technology it has developed and used on the battlefield.
“These are powerful systems tested in a real war when every international institution failed,” the Ukrainian president said. “And we are also ready to grow our defense production together with strong partners so that their protection is modern and reliable. You don’t need to start this race from scratch. We’re ready to share what has already proven itself in real defense.”
His remarks at the United Nations General Assembly come a day after President Donald Trump argued for the first time that Ukraine, with allied support, has the ability to recapture all of its territory occupied by Russian forces.
Trump’s comments represented a sharp shift in his public comments about the status of the war and Ukraine’s likelihood to recapture its territory.
“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option,” Trump wrote on social media.
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It is unclear exactly what prompted Trump to change his stance on the status of the conflict, though he said his opinion shifted “after getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation.”
It is also unknown how the president’s new views may affect U.S. policy. The Trump administration has stopped providing weapons directly to Ukraine — rather, it has set up a new system in which NATO allies purchase U.S. weapons and then give them to Kyiv.
