Zelensky at UN: Russia weakened but threat spreads beyond Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the UN General Assembly hours after a Russian attack on Kyiv killed two civilians, asserting that Russia's military is weakened despite ongoing aggression. He stated Moscow will not capture the Donetsk region and has inadvertently boosted Ukraine's defense capabilities. Zelensky cited Russian army losses of 248,964 soldiers between January and August, emphasizing Russia's vulnerability more than four years after its first invasion. He warned the threat extends beyond Donetsk, claiming Vladimir Putin will target Moldova, Baltic countries, and Caucasus neighbors, while clarifying Ukraine's strikes aim to cripple Russia's war financing, not its oil industry. The Ukrainian president appealed for diplomacy to end the conflict and invited other nations to join the Freya anti-ballistic program. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had earlier vowed Moscow "will not stop" its aggression.