President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Wednesday warned that Russia’s “ridiculous and never-ending war” on his country could soon spread to other parts of Europe and called for increased economic pressure on Moscow to force a peace agreement before the fighting enters another deadly winter. Diplomatic impasses and the global economic fallout from armed conflicts have dominated discussions during the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly. In his speech to the body, which he delivered in English, Mr. Zelensky offered reminders of the wide-ranging effects of Russia’s war, from grain shortages to fuel prices to the frenzied race to create ever more deadly drone technology. Zelensky said that Russia had used citizens from 47 countries in its war effort, making a direct appeal to world leaders. “It’s your citizens,” he said, adding, “Take care of them, and do not let Putin drag you into this war.” Zelensky also warned that artificial intelligence could make the war more deadly and unpredictable. “As early as next year, there is a real possibility that A.I., not only people, will decide what happens on the battlefield,” Zelensky said. “We need peace before we reach that point.” https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/09/23/world/un-general-assembly-iran-ukraine?smid=nytcore-ios-share