Very difficult to quote from CNN these days. However, I was trying to give you more information from Zelensky

 

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Live Updates

Iran’s president says ‘we will never bow our head’ to Trump in defiant UN speech

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a warning about Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez will speak later.

Updated 3:32 PM EDT, Wed September 23, 2026

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Zelensky: Russia's oil industry "running on fumes"

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Here's the latest

• Iran president speaks: In his UNGA address, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will not bend to US President Donald Trump and asserted Iranians have been “the victims of terrorism.” A US delegate in the room walked out.

• No breakthrough: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that US-Iran mediated talks on the sidelines of UNGA did not yield any major breakthrough, indicating the memorandum of understanding from earlier this year was no longer in the cards.

• Zelensky delivers remarks: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Vladimir Putin “patient zero,” saying the Russian leader spreads war and instability. As he spoke, Zelensky’s party headquarters were struck by Russia, according to Kyiv officials.

• Eyes on Venezuela: Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez will address UNGA more than eight months after the US captured her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, who is currently being held in a Brooklyn detention center. Trump met with her last night as Washington maintains political pressure on Venezuela to enact reforms.

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28 min ago

A recap of Zelensky's key lines in his UNGA speech

By Maureen Chowdhury

 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives to speak at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Heather Khalifa/AP

During his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “patient zero,” painting him as the core reason for the war waged against his country.

“Can you even imagine him without war? He is patient zero, the one from whom this idea of war keeps spreading further. And wherever it spreads, it brings only pain, instability, new risks, and of course, new crises,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that the war is not one that his country chose and called for the end of the conflict and the security of the nation.

Here’s what else Zelensky said during his address:

• The Ukrainian leader said Putin must be denied the space to act and “spread this evil further.”
• He said it was important to target Russia’s financial ability to carry out the war, noting that its oil production is “running out of fumes.” Zelensky added, “Russia’s finances and Russia’s production are what must be stopped if Putin is to be stopped.”
• Earlier in his speech, Zelensky approvingly quoted from a social media post by US President Donald Trump about Russia’s diesel woes.
• Zelensky said Putin’s goal is not just to seize Ukraine’s Donetsk region, he wants more of the country’s cities too.
• Zelensky shared some details of the alleged capture of two North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia who were sent to South Korea. “One of them, when he realized he was he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself. He was shocked that fate didn’t let him die,” he said.

CNN’s Max Saltman and Billy Stockwell contributed to this report.

18 min ago

Zelensky touts new drone deals, anti-ballistic program aimed at protecting Europe

By Billy Stockwell

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted on Wednesday Ukraine’s growing partnerships with countries around the world, including a new drone deal signed with Finland.

“Today, I signed a drone deal, serious drone deal with Finland, and this is significant. Also today, I signed (a) security agreement with Australia, and drones are part of it too, and we are preparing drone deals with Canada and with other countries as well,” he told world leaders at today’s UN General Assembly.

Zelensky previously said a new drone agreement was ready to be signed in New York, but did not specify which nations were involved.

The Ukrainian leader said that Ukraine, alongside at least nine other nations, have launched a new anti-ballistic program. “Last week, I invited Poland to join, and we are also in consultations with a couple of other allied governments who want to join,” he said.

He said this was part of an effort to build a system that can “become an integrated part of Ukraine’s defense and Europe’s defense” in the future.