Zelensky Warns UN: Europe Cannot Afford to Lose Moldova to Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a stark warning at the United Nations on Wednesday, stating that Europe cannot afford to allow Moldova to fall under Russia's influence. He likened the situation to those of Georgia and Belarus, nations he says have become heavily dependent on Vladimir Putin.
Growing Concerns Over Russian Interference in Moldova
Addressing world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York, Zelensky expressed deep concern about Russia's attempts to destabilize Moldova. He pointed out that Moldova, a former Soviet republic bordering Ukraine, is following a path similar to Georgia and Belarus, which have governments closely aligned with Russia. He said, "Russia’s trying to do to Moldova what Iran once did to Lebanon and the global response again, not enough."
Ahead of Moldova's parliamentary election this weekend, the country has been targeted by a wave of deepfake videos and disinformation campaigns believed to be linked to Russia. On Tuesday, authorities arrested 74 suspected saboteurs allegedly trained by Russia to incite riots before the election. President Maia Sandu, a pro-EU leader, accused Moscow of spending “hundreds of millions of euros to buy hundreds of thousands of votes”.
Zelensky Criticizes UN, Praises Trump
In his wide-ranging speech, Zelensky also criticized the UN, claiming it has failed to provide adequate assistance to countries at war. He questioned what nations like Sudan, Somalia, and Palestine could expect from the organization, citing "just statements and statements" over decades.
He cautioned about the future of warfare, raising the possibility of drones carrying nuclear warheads and stating: “Stopping Russia now is cheaper than wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone carrying a nuclear warhead.”
Notably, Zelensky praised former US President Donald Trump, who suggested NATO jets should shoot down Russian jets and that Ukraine could reclaim all its territory. Zelensky said, “We had a good meeting with President Trump, and I also spoke with many other strong leaders, and together, we can change a lot.”
Kremlin Dismisses Trump's Assessment of the Conflict
The Kremlin swiftly rejected Trump's assessment of the war, claiming he had been influenced by Zelensky. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, told reporters that Trump's statements were made "under the influence of a vision set out by Zelensky" and that this vision "contrasts sharply with our understanding of the current state of affairs." He added that encouraging Ukraine to continue hostilities with the argument that Ukraine can win something back is a mistaken one and that "The dynamics on the front lines speak for themselves".
Peskov also defended the Russian economy, countering Trump's claim that it was in "big trouble." Data released by the Russian economy ministry revealed a GDP growth forecast reduction from 2.5 percent to 1 percent, with potential tax increases on the horizon.
Ukraine's Countermeasures and Economic Impact
In an effort to disrupt the Russian economy, Ukraine has launched a sustained bombing campaign targeting Moscow's oil refineries and military facilities. This has included attacks on major petrochemical complexes, such as Salavat in the Bashkortostan region. Kyiv has reportedly attacked more than 10 refiners and export terminals in the past two months, some located as far as 621 miles from the Ukrainian border. The goal is to degrade Russia's ability to fund its war effort.
