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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has become the most-viewed video on the UN&rsquo;s official YouTube channel, drawing over a million views in just three days.&nbsp;Sharif&rsquo;s speech outpaced global leaders including US President Donald Trump, whose address on September 24 garnered about 349,000 views, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose remarks on September 26 reached 182,000 views.&nbsp;Delivering his third address to the global forum, Sharif outlined Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on regional disputes, terrorism, climate change, and global governance, while making a heartfelt appeal for Palestine. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/6d4c9e03-54b2-4ac0-a0e9-cf323c297c14-un-bestviews.jpg" alt="un-bestviews.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">This screengrab, taken on September 28, 2025, shows the United Nations&rsquo; official YouTube channel, where Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s 80th UNGA address ranked as the most-viewed speech among world leaders. (Pakistan TV Digital)</figcaption></figure> &nbsp;He began with a bleak assessment of global challenges, citing intensifying conflicts, violations of international law, terrorism, disinformation, an escalating arms race, and the climate crisis.&nbsp;&ldquo;Multilateralism is no more an option; it is essential,&rdquo; he said, endorsing initiatives such as the UN&rsquo;s &ldquo;Pact for the Future&rdquo; but warning that &ldquo;mere declarations are not enough.&rdquo;&nbsp;Sharif also revisited recent tensions with India, accusing New Delhi of &ldquo;unprovoked aggression&rdquo; after Islamabad&rsquo;s demand for an international probe into the Pahalgam incident was rejected. He said Pakistan exercised its right to self-defense by downing seven Indian aircraft.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our valiant armed forces, under Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, mounted an operation of stunning professionalism and bravery,&rdquo; he noted, crediting Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu for leading the air response.&nbsp;On UN reforms, Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to multilateralism as a non-permanent Security Council member. While supporting a stronger, more representative UN, he opposed expanding permanent Council membership, warning it would deepen the body&rsquo;s &ldquo;paralysis and selectivity.&rdquo;&nbsp;He closed with a call to action: &ldquo;Let this 80th anniversary not simply commemorate history. Let us make history, by building a United Nations that delivers peace, justice, and development for all.&rdquo;

Viral

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UNGA speech became the most-viewed video on the UN’s YouTube channel, surpassing addresses by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, as he pressed Pakistan’s stance on conflicts, governance, climate, and Palestine.

PM Sharif’s UNGA speech tops YouTube views, outpacing Trump and Netanyahu

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Pakistan had &ldquo;won the war with India&rdquo; earlier this year and now seeks a path to comprehensive peace through dialogue.&nbsp;In his third address to the global forum, he laid out Pakistan&rsquo;s position on regional disputes, terrorism, climate change, and global governance, while also making an emotional appeal for Palestine.&nbsp;PM Sharif opened his speech with a grim survey of the world&rsquo;s challenges, citing intensifying conflicts, violations of international law, terrorism, disinformation, an arms race, and the climate crisis.&nbsp;He said these threats demanded collective action: &ldquo;Multilateralism is no more an option; it is essential.&rdquo; While welcoming new UN initiatives such as the &ldquo;Pact for the Future,&rdquo; he warned that &ldquo;mere declarations are not enough.&rdquo;&nbsp;Clash with India and ceasefirePakistani premier recounted the confrontation with India in May, accusing New Delhi of &ldquo;unprovoked aggression&rdquo; after rejecting Islamabad&rsquo;s call for an international probe into the Pahalgam incident. He said Pakistan responded under its right of self-defense, shooting down seven Indian aircraft.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our valiant armed forces, under Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, mounted an operation of stunning professionalism and bravery,&rdquo; he declared, crediting Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu for leading the air response.&nbsp;Despite being in &ldquo;a position of strength,&rdquo; Sharif said Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump, whose &ldquo;bold and visionary leadership&rdquo; he praised for averting a wider South Asian war. He also thanked China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Azerbaijan, the UAE, and the UN Secretary-General for their diplomatic support.&nbsp;Dialogue and Indus Waters TreatySharif said Pakistan was ready for a &ldquo;composite, comprehensive, and result-oriented dialogue&rdquo; with India to resolve all outstanding disputes. But he issued a warning against India&rsquo;s reported move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling any violation &ldquo;an act of war.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The inalienable right of our 240 million people on these waters will be defended ardently,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;PM Sharif also reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, promising that &ldquo;India&rsquo;s tyranny will come to an end&rdquo; and that Kashmiris will one day exercise their right to self-determination under a UN-supervised plebiscite.&nbsp;Strong words on PalestineThe prime minister dedicated much of his address to the crisis in Gaza and the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. He condemned a &ldquo;genocidal onslaught&rdquo; against women and children, referencing the case of Hind Rajab, a child killed in Gaza, as a symbol of global failure.&nbsp;&ldquo;We must find a path to a ceasefire now and just now,&rdquo; Sharif urged, declaring Pakistan&rsquo;s firm support for a sovereign Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. &ldquo;Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles. It must be liberated.&rdquo;&nbsp;He recalled Pakistan&rsquo;s recognition of Palestine in 1988 and welcomed recent moves by other countries to extend recognition, urging the international community to follow suit. He also criticized Israeli strikes beyond Gaza, pledging solidarity with Qatar.&nbsp;Counterterrorism and AfghanistanSharif reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s condemnation of terrorism &ldquo;in all its forms and manifestations,&rdquo; noting that the country has lost more than 90,000 lives and suffered $150 billion in economic losses over two decades of counterterrorism efforts.&nbsp;He accused foreign-funded groups, including the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], BLA [Baloch Liberation Army] and its Majeed Brigade, of operating from Afghan soil and staging attacks such as the Jaffar Express hijacking earlier this year.&nbsp;&ldquo;As an immediate neighbor, Pakistan has a direct stake in a peaceful Afghanistan,&rdquo; he said, calling on the Interim Afghan Government to respect human rights and ensure Afghan soil is not used for cross-border terrorism.&nbsp;Islamophobia and extremismSharif warned of the dangers of &ldquo;hate-driven ideologies,&rdquo; including what he described as Hindutva extremism in India. He welcomed the appointment of a UN Special Envoy on Islamophobia and urged stronger international action against discrimination and hate speech.&nbsp;Climate emergencyTurning to climate change, the prime minister reminded delegates of the devastating floods that struck Pakistan in 2022 and again in 2025, killing thousands and displacing millions. Declaring a climate emergency, he said Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global emissions yet remains among the 10 most vulnerable countries.&nbsp;He called on wealthy nations to deliver on climate finance commitments, stressing that Pakistan was investing in resilience, clean energy, and sustainable development but needed international support to meet the scale of the challenge.&nbsp;Economic reforms and partnershipsOn domestic progress, Sharif highlighted structural reforms, tax modernization, investment mobilization, and adoption of digital technologies. He pointed to infrastructure, energy, agriculture, mining, and technology as priority sectors, and emphasized Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic partnership with China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative.&nbsp;He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping&rsquo;s global initiatives, saying they offer &ldquo;a comprehensive framework for a more just and inclusive development.&rdquo;&nbsp;UN reforms and global governanceSharif reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to multilateralism as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He said Islamabad supports a &ldquo;more effective, more credible and more representative&rdquo; United Nations, but opposed adding new permanent members to the Security Council, arguing it would &ldquo;compound&rdquo; the body&rsquo;s paralysis and selectivity.&nbsp;He closed his speech with a call for a reinvigorated UN that delivers peace, justice, and development for all: &ldquo;Let this 80th anniversary not simply commemorate history. Let us make history.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

PM Shehbaz Sharif declares Pakistan “won the war with India,” praises US-brokered ceasefire, urges dialogue for peace, warns against Indus Treaty violations, calls for urgent global action on Kashmir and Gaza.

Pakistan won war with India; wants dialogue for peace, Sharif tells UNGA

ISLAMABAD: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a mass walkout at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday as he delivered a combative defense of Israel&rsquo;s war in Gaza, laced with Islamophobic remarks, attacks on Western states recognizing Palestine, and warnings against Iran.&nbsp;Netanyahu addressed a largely empty hall after dozens of delegations walked out in protest over Israel&rsquo;s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 65,500 people, mostly civilians, according to local health authorities. His speech was broadcast along the Israel-Gaza border via loudspeakers mounted on trucks as part of an official campaign to project his message inside Gaza.&nbsp;Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, lashed out at France, Britain, Australia, and Canada for recognizing a Palestinian state. He compared the move to &ldquo;murdering Jews,&rdquo; accusing these governments of &ldquo;rewarding terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;He warned that establishing a Palestinian state near Jerusalem would be like &ldquo;giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11,&rdquo; dismissing the idea as &ldquo;sheer madness.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iran as &ldquo;terror axis&rdquo;Holding up a map labeled &ldquo;The Curse,&rdquo; Netanyahu described Iran as the hub of a &ldquo;terror axis&rdquo; threatening &ldquo;the peace of the entire world&rdquo; and Israel&rsquo;s existence. He cited Israel&rsquo;s strikes on Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas, and even took credit for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.<figure class="fr-media"> </figure><figure class="fr-media"> </figure><figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/57ed6d92-3fb6-4da1-a741-800c2b8d648b-netnayhua.png" alt="The Israeli PM started off his speech by pulling out a map with the words “The Curse” written on it. He declared Iran as a hub “terror axis” that threatens the “peace of entire world”, “the stability of [Middle East]”, and “the very existence of my countr" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">The Israeli PM started off his speech by pulling out a map with the words &ldquo;The Curse&rdquo; written on it. He declared Iran as a hub &ldquo;terror axis&rdquo; that threatens the &ldquo;peace of entire world&rdquo;, &ldquo;the stability of [Middle East]&rdquo;, and &ldquo;the very existence of my country, Israel&rdquo;.</figcaption></figure>Iran&rsquo;s foreign ministry denounced the speech as &ldquo;Islamophobic propaganda&rdquo; aimed at justifying &ldquo;genocide in Gaza&rdquo; and condemned what it called Israel&rsquo;s attempts to distract from its war crimes.&nbsp;Rejection of genocideResponding to genocide accusations, Netanyahu claimed Israel takes unprecedented measures to protect civilians, saying, &ldquo;For Israel, every civilian casualty is a tragedy. For Hamas, it is a victory.&rdquo;&nbsp;He accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields but rejected responsibility for Gaza&rsquo;s humanitarian catastrophe, which UN agencies warn has pushed the enclave to the brink of famine.&nbsp;Hamas responseHamas welcomed the mass boycott, saying it underscored Israel&rsquo;s deepening isolation. &ldquo;Boycotting Netanyahu&rsquo;s speech is one manifestation of Israel&rsquo;s isolation and the consequences of the war of extermination,&rdquo; said Taher al-Nunu, media adviser to Hamas political bureau.&nbsp;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/67780db5-3782-4c05-bfbc-39927ba3c9bf-6283817018288264.jpg" alt="6283817018288264.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">People walk out of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 26, 2025 in New York City. (AFP)</figcaption></figure>Netanyahu also dismissed the Palestinian Authority as &ldquo;corrupt to the core,&rdquo; accusing it of incentivizing violence against Israelis. He argued the PA was no different from Hamas in opposing Israel&rsquo;s existence.&nbsp;Hostages and US supportSpeaking directly to families of hostages still held in Gaza, Netanyahu vowed they would not be forgotten: &ldquo;We will not rest until we bring all of you home.&rdquo; He praised US President Donald Trump for supporting Israel and urged the UN Security Council to reinstate sanctions against Iran to prevent it from rebuilding its nuclear program.&nbsp;Rejection of ceasefireThe Israeli leader rejected international appeals for a ceasefire as &ldquo;empty posturing,&rdquo; insisting that many governments privately thank Israel for countering terrorism. He described Israel&rsquo;s post-October 7 response as &ldquo;one of the most stunning in history,&rdquo; though fighting continues.&nbsp;Despite ruling out Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu signaled openness to peace with Lebanon and Syria through direct talks. He suggested that defeating Hamas could clear the way for broader normalization with Arab and Muslim-majority states, but warned Western leaders against &ldquo;shoving a terror state down our throats.&rdquo;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2025. REUTERSKylie Cooper

Asia

Middle East

Americas

Israeli PM opens his address in front of a largely empty hall, as several delegations staged a walkout in protest against the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s UNGA speech triggers walkout amid Gaza war protests

Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington today, with the two leaders expected to discuss matters of mutual interest, as well as regional and global issues, according to Radio Pakistan. Following his time at the United Nations, PM Sharif will travel to Washington, DC, for the highly anticipated one-on-one meeting with President Trump at White House.&nbsp; A Trump administration official told Reuters on Wednesday that the US and Pakistan are &ldquo;working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties.&rdquo; &quot;And so the president remains focused on advancing US interests in the region, which includes engaging with Pakistan and their government leaders,&quot; the official said. Meeting to cover range of issuesPM Sharif&rsquo;s visit, his first to the US Capitol for a direct meeting with Trump, is seen by analysts as a pivotal moment for the newly reset relationship between Washington and Islamabad. Their discussion is expected to cover a range of critical topics, including strengthening bilateral relations, counter-terrorism efforts, regional stability in Afghanistan, and expanding trade, including pressing&nbsp;international matters.&nbsp; He earlier met with the US president during a separate meeting of Islamic and Arab nations focused on establishing sustainable peace in Palestine and the Middle East. After his meeting in DC, PM Sharif will return to New York to prepare for his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 26.&nbsp; He is expected to use the platform to call for action on key issues, including the right to self-determination for Kashmiris and Palestinians and the global challenge of climate change, which has had a devastating impact on Pakistan.&nbsp; Trade with Pakistan, IndiaThe United States and Pakistan announced a trade deal on July 31 with a 19% tariff rate imposed by Washington. Trump has yet to reach a trade deal with India. When asked about frictions with India, the official said Trump believed in being frank about frustrations in ties, but the relationship was strong. Washington viewed New Delhi as a good friend and partner, and felt that their relationship would define the 21st century, the Trump administration official said. He added that Washington had been working on planning for a summit of the Quad grouping, comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, which was expected to take place in November. That would happen, &quot;if not this year, [then] early next year,&quot; the official said.

Trump administration official says US-Pakistan are “working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties.”



PM Sharif, Trump to meet in Washington today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, underscoring Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to economic reforms, fiscal stabilization, and climate-resilient recovery.&nbsp;Sharif thanked IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva for the Fund&rsquo;s continued support under various facilities, including the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement and the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).&nbsp;&ldquo;The impact of the recent floods on Pakistan&rsquo;s economy must be factored into the IMF&rsquo;s review,&rdquo; Sharif emphasized.&nbsp;Georgieva praised Pakistan&rsquo;s progress on economic reforms and reiterated the IMF&rsquo;s support for the country&rsquo;s macroeconomic stability. She expressed sympathy for flood-affected communities and underlined the need for comprehensive damage assessments to shape recovery priorities. Sharif-Gates meet&nbsp;Separately, the PM met with Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, on the sidelines and expressed appreciation for the foundation&rsquo;s generous donation to Pakistan&#39;s recent floods in 2025.&nbsp; Prime Minister Sharif expressed appreciation for the foundation&rsquo;s generous donation to Pakistan, as well as for the donation made following the 2022 floods.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, the premier appreciated the support extended by the Gates Foundation to Pakistan for its polio eradication efforts, as well as improvements in immunization and nutrition, and financial inclusion in the country, according to a statement issued by the prime minister&#39;s office. According to the statement, the premier emphasized that polio eradication remained a top priority, and partnership with the Gates Foundation would remain vital to achieving this objective. &quot;The prime minister and [Bill] Gates reaffirmed their shared commitment to continue working together to advance cooperation in sectors of health, nutrition, digital transformation, and larger socio-economic development of the country,&quot; it added.&nbsp;World BankEarlier, in talks with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, the prime minister discussed reforms in tax collection, energy sector restructuring, and climate action under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2026&ndash;2035, which includes a $40 billion financing commitment.&nbsp;&ldquo;President Banga appreciated the reform measures being undertaken by Pakistan and reaffirmed the Bank&rsquo;s commitment to Pakistan&rsquo;s development agenda,&rdquo; stated the PM&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;Sharif commended the World Bank&#39;s rapid response to past crises, including the 2022 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, and welcomed the Bank&rsquo;s evolving role as a more agile development partner.&nbsp;Since joining the World Bank in 1950, Pakistan has received over $48.3 billion in assistance, with the current portfolio consisting of 54 projects totaling $15.7 billion.&nbsp;Strengthening bilateral tiesIn a separate meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Lithuania&rsquo;s Acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys. Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade, investment, and cooperation in digital economy and education.&nbsp;A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Convention on Avoidance of Double Taxation, described as a &ldquo;significant milestone&rdquo; to boost investor confidence and economic collaboration.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are committed to maintaining momentum in bilateral engagement and exploring new areas of mutual interest,&rdquo; said Dar.&nbsp;Kuwait and PakistanPM Sharif also met with Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah to deepen cooperation in trade, agriculture, manpower, and health.&nbsp;Sharif conveyed gratitude for Kuwait&rsquo;s support during Pakistan&rsquo;s 2022 floods and extended a formal invitation for the Crown Prince to visit Pakistan later this year.&nbsp;Both leaders discussed key regional and international developments, with the crown prince commending Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic role in raising awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people.&nbsp;These engagements on the sidelines of UNGA reflect Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic push to build resilient economic frameworks, secure long-term international financing, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships.&nbsp;As Pakistan continues navigating the challenges of post-disaster recovery and structural economic reform, its outreach in New York underscores a growing emphasis on global collaboration for inclusive growth and stability.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation held key meetings with IMF, World Bank, Lithuania, and Kuwait to bolster economic reforms, flood recovery efforts, and strengthen diplomatic and development partnerships.

On UNGA sidelines, Pakistan pushes economic reforms, recovery agenda with global partners

UNITED NATIONS: President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, a dramatic shift from the US leader&rsquo;s repeated calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the war.&nbsp;Trump posted on social media soon after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly gathering of world leaders.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,&quot; Trump wrote. &quot;With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.&rdquo;&nbsp;The strengthened support from Trump, if it sticks, is a huge win for Zelenskyy, who has urged the American president to keep up the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his war. It was a departure from Trump&#39;s previous suggestions that Ukraine would never be able to reclaim all the territory that Russia has occupied since seizing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.&nbsp;That had disheartened Zelenskyy, Europeans and Ukrainians and called into question the US commitment to UN principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. But now, Trump&rsquo;s view of the battlefield coincides more with Ukraine&rsquo;s, Zelenskyy said.&nbsp;&ldquo;Trump is a game changer by himself,&rdquo; Zelenskyy told reporters after their meeting.&nbsp;Trump needles Russia about war in UkraineTrump, going back to his 2024 campaign, insisted he would quickly end the war, but his peace efforts appear to have stalled following a diplomatic blitz last month, when he held a summit with Putin and a White House meeting with Zelenskyy and European allies.&nbsp;Trump has acknowledged, including in his UN speech to world leaders, that he thought a resolution to this conflict would be &ldquo;the easiest&rdquo; because he has had a good relationship with Putin. Trump said he is open to imposing more sanctions on Russia and urged Europe to join in.&nbsp;&ldquo;Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years, a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win,&rdquo; Trump wrote on social media. &ldquo;This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like &lsquo;a paper tiger.&rsquo;&rdquo;&nbsp;In his speech to the General Assembly, Trump said the war in Ukraine was making Russia &ldquo;look bad&rdquo; because it was &ldquo;supposed to be a quick little skirmish.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It shows you what leadership is, what bad leadership can do to a country,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The only question now is how many lives will be needlessly lost on both sides.&rdquo;&nbsp;Before meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump said the &ldquo;biggest progress&rdquo; toward ending the conflict &ldquo;is that the Russian economy is terrible right now.&rdquo; Zelenskyy said he agreed with Trump&rsquo;s call for European nations to further halt imports of Russian oil and natural gas.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up,&rdquo; Trump told Zelenskyy, who replied that he had &ldquo;good news&rdquo; from the battlefield.&nbsp;How Trump&#39;s stance has shifted on UkraineBefore his Alaska summit with Putin last month, Trump repeated that any resolution to the war would require &ldquo;some land swapping.&quot;&nbsp;In talks with Zelenskyy and Europeans just afterward, Trump said Putin reiterated that he wants the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas, according to European officials. Days later, Zelensky and prominent European leaders came to the White House.&nbsp;Following those meetings, Trump announced he was arranging for direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy. But Putin hasn&rsquo;t shown any interest in meeting with Zelenskyy and Moscow has only intensified its bombardment of Ukraine.&nbsp;European leaders, as well as American lawmakers, including some Republican allies of Trump, have urged the president to dial up stronger sanctions on Russia.&nbsp;&ldquo;In the event that Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs, which would stop the bloodshed, I believe, very quickly,&rdquo; Trump told the General Assembly.&nbsp;However, he repeated his calls for Europe to &ldquo;step it up&rdquo; and stop buying Russian oil, the engine feeding Putin&rsquo;s war machine.&nbsp;Push for sanctions and cutting off Russian oilEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said before meeting with Trump that Europe would be imposing more sanctions and tariffs on Russia and that the bloc would be further reducing its imports of Russian energy.&nbsp;Zelenskyy, speaking at a special UN Security Council session on Ukraine, also appealed for stronger US pressure on Russia.&nbsp;&ldquo;Moscow fears America and always pays attention to it,&rdquo; said Zelenskyy, who has had strained ties with Trump in previous sitdowns and has previously faced White House accusations that he was partly to blame for Russia&rsquo;s invasion in 2022.&nbsp;Russia denigrated the Security Council meeting as just the New York stop in the world tour of a &ldquo;former actor,&rdquo; a reference to Zelenskyy.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is no added value for the establishment of peace in Ukraine generated from today&rsquo;s meeting,&rdquo; said Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia&rsquo;s deputy ambassador to the UN. &quot;This will merely become yet another shameful episode in the market of hypocrisy.&rdquo;&nbsp;European leaders have supported Zelenskyy&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts, with some alarmed by the possibility that the war could spread beyond Ukraine as they are facing what they have called Russian provocations.&nbsp;&ldquo;I welcome the fact that the president of the United States believes in Ukraine&rsquo;s ability not only to hold the course&rdquo; but to prevail, French President Emmanuel Macron said.&nbsp;NATO allies will hold formal consultations at Estonia&rsquo;s request on Tuesday, after the Baltic country said three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace last week without authorization.&nbsp;Trump said he would back NATO countries that choose to shoot down intruding Russian planes but said direct US involvement would depend on the circumstances.&nbsp;New strikes in Ukraine as toll of war growsThe full-scale war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, is taking a heavy toll on Ukrainian civilians. Russia said it shot down three dozen Ukrainian drones heading toward Moscow, while Ukraine said Russian missiles, drones and bombs killed at least two civilians.&nbsp;The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also said this month that Ukrainian civilian casualties increased by 40% in the first eight months of this year compared with 2024, as Russia escalated its long-range missile and localized drone strikes.&nbsp;A UN Human Rights Office report released Tuesday described the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained by Russia in areas of Ukraine it has captured.&nbsp;&ldquo;Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainian civilian detainees in occupied territory to torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, in a widespread and systematic manner,&rdquo; the report said.

President Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UNGA 80

Europe

He posts on social media after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly gathering of world leaders.

Articles tagged with "UNGA 80"

PM Sharif’s UNGA speech tops YouTube views, outpacing Trump and Netanyahu

Pakistan won war with India; wants dialogue for peace, Sharif tells UNGA

Netanyahu’s UNGA speech triggers walkout amid Gaza war protests

PM Sharif, Trump to meet in Washington today

On UNGA sidelines, Pakistan pushes economic reforms, recovery agenda with global partners

Trump says Ukraine can win back all territory with NATO's help

Netanyahu’s UNGA speech triggers walkout amid Gaza war protests