Battle-Tested Zelenskyy Issues Chilling Warning on Putin’s Next Move

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Tuesday that Russia could target additional European countries, telling News Media that the risk of a new offensive is “very high” as Moscow attempts to fracture European unity and erode support for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy spoke to reporters after meeting President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He was asked by News Media about the possibility of Russia invading or attacking another European country in the near future.

“That’s why the risk of offensive by drones, missiles or land operation is very high against other countries who are bordering Russia or Belarus,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president said Russian leader Vladimir Putin, having failed to achieve his military goals in Ukraine, could try to create instability elsewhere in Europe. Such a strategy, Zelenskyy argued, would aim to pressure Western governments into scaling back their backing for Kyiv.

“How to divide unanimity in Europe? … To attack somebody else. To attack and say, look, I will go further if you will not stop this,” Zelenskyy said.

He cited drone incursions and other disruptions in several European countries as evidence that Moscow is already seeking to intimidate European populations and gauge how governments respond.

Zelenskyy said Putin’s failure to win decisively in Ukraine could lead to further confrontations as the Russian president faces pressure to explain the war and its costs to the Russian public.

Asked by News Media how European countries should respond to the growing danger, Zelenskyy delivered a blunt message.

“Respond. Always respond. It’s not about the war. If you don’t respond, Russians, they will go further,” he said.

His comments came as concern over Russian activity across Europe intensified following a series of drone incursions and warnings from European leaders about the prospect of additional attacks.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Sept. 14 that peace in Europe was at risk and urged countries to take the threat seriously. Speaking at an EU-Arctic Summit in Finland, Merz said Russia’s regional presence and hybrid attacks elsewhere in Europe were growing, and called for a coordinated response from European nations and NATO.

Merz’s warning followed an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4, which German authorities publicly attributed to Russia on Sept. 1.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a separate warning on Sept. 17, saying Russia was preparing drone or missile attacks against NATO members that support Ukraine, including Poland. He said Moscow could portray those incidents as accidental in an effort to limit the alliance’s response.

The concerns go beyond potential future attacks. Romania’s Defense Ministry said a drone entered the country’s airspace on Sept. 8 before flying back toward Moldova and crashing. One week later, Italian fighter jets conducting NATO air defense operations shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. Italian officials said it most likely originated in Russia, while Lithuanian authorities continued investigating.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs told The Guardian in a Sept. 18 interview that European countries and NATO were struggling to keep up with advances in drone warfare. He pointed to weaknesses in air and missile defenses that could leave countries across Europe exposed to Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy’s remarks came after his talks with Trump, during which he said he proposed a mutual suspension of attacks on Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He also discussed Ukraine’s need for additional Patriot air defense missiles ahead of winter.

“We are ready,” Zelenskyy said of a potential agreement to halt energy strikes, adding that he was unsure whether Russia was prepared to reciprocate.

Zelenskyy also said Trump had expressed a willingness to help Ukraine obtain additional air defense capabilities, although no concrete commitment on immediate missile deliveries had been made.

The meeting came as Russia and Ukraine intensified aerial attacks, including strikes on energy infrastructure, ahead of the UN General Assembly.