Published on: 2026-09-23
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 23, 2026 UN
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the general debates of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, called on countries to jointly produce more ballistic missile defense systems. According to him, existing interceptors are insufficient even for the wealthiest states. Ukraine and nine European countries are participating in the Freyja program, the goal of which is to create a system that can be mass-produced and cheaper. Zelenskyy emphasized that it will not replace existing systems such as Patriot.
According to the data provided by Zelensky, since the beginning of the year Russia has used more than 2,100 missiles against Ukraine, including over 950 ballistic ones, and 63 thousand various types of strike drones. He said ballistic missiles and the new reactive “Shaheds” pose a particular challenge. The President reported that Ukrainian military successfully tested four new reactive interceptor drones against them and are now increasing their production.
Zelensky also proposed cooperation with other countries to counter drones in the air, at sea, and on land. According to him, such agreements cover not only drones but also the protection of borders, transport, and critical infrastructure. The president reported that he signed a cooperation agreement in this area with Finland and a security agreement with Australia, which also includes the drone issue. Ukraine is preparing similar agreements with Canada and other countries.
The President of Ukraine once again called for limiting Russia’s income from trade and maintaining sanctions pressure. He explained the strikes on the Russian oil industry as an effort to deprive Moscow of funds to continue the war. Speaking about the upcoming winter, Zelensky warned that it could be very harsh for Ukrainians. “No Russian official could have imagined that the ‘General Winter,’ who for centuries fought on Russia’s side, would one day switch to the side of those defending against it. We will achieve this this winter if Russia continues to strike at our energy system and heating,” he stated.
Zelensky called for combining diplomatic efforts with strengthening defense and slowing down the rapid development of weapons, which, he said, has already become a global threat. He warned that as early as next year, decisions about what is happening on the battlefield will be made not only by humans but also by artificial intelligence. “Ukrainians did not choose this war. We choose not to die, not to lose our country, our families, our independence, and our freedom,” he said.
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