Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of recruiting fighters from 47 countries to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Zelenskyy highlighted Russia’s growing defence ties with North Korea and said two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been sent to South Korea.
“Putin is always looking for someone who can help him kill more, kill more people for every kilometre of land, take more territory and take another country instead of simply stopping and running his own country,” Zelenskyy said.
“We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war,” he said, citing citizens of Ghana, Nepal and India who had been involved in the conflict.
“Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea. These guys are not easy to capture alive,” he added.
Kiev expands drone partnerships
Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine’s growing cooperation with allies on drone technology, saying Kiev had reached agreements with countries in the Gulf, the South Caucasus and Europe.
“Today, I signed a drone deal, a serious drone deal, with Finland,” he said, adding that he had also signed a security agreement with Australia that included drones.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was also preparing a drone agreement with Canada.
Zelenskyy warns of energy strikes
The Ukrainian president warned that Kiev could target Russian heating and energy facilities this winter, saying Ukraine could respond to Russian attacks on its civilian energy infrastructure.
“Ukrainians understand that this winter could be very harsh for us, but in response we will have no choice but to make it painful for Russia too,” he said.
His remarks came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was pushing Russia and Ukraine towards a limited ceasefire covering attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s aim was not to destroy Russia’s supplies of petrol and diesel, but to reduce Moscow’s revenues from energy sales that he said help finance the war.
“When someone gives Russia more money through trade, they give this war more time,” he said. “That is exactly why we insist on limiting trade with the aggressor, and why we are burning Russia’s revenues ourselves.”
“The longer Putin is able to wage war, the more evil he will leave behind in this world,” Zelenskyy added.
