Zelenskyy Urges Europe to Unite

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for stronger cooperation among European countries and their allies, warning that shifting U.S. engagement, Russia’s war and emerging technologies will reshape global security for decades. He made the remarks on Nov. 4 at the 25th Berlin Security Conference.

Zelenskyy said Europe must prepare for a potentially more inward-looking United States while maintaining trans-Atlantic cooperation. He thanked Washington for military assistance to Ukraine and said U.S. support had helped save lives, while also emphasizing that Ukraine could not have resisted Russia without European backing.

The president urged Germany and other major European powers to remain committed to the continent’s security architecture. He said no individual European country could independently defend against large-scale missile attacks, develop comprehensive drone defenses or secure critical energy and communications systems.

Zelenskyy also cited the growing impact of artificial intelligence, long-range drones, cyber and hybrid threats, and the militarization of space. He warned that Russia’s military buildup and opposition to a united Europe posed a broader threat, and called for alliances capable of addressing these challenges collectively. The Berlin Security Conference, held Nov. 3–4 under the theme “Europe and NATO: Together Strong Against Multipolar Threats,” focuses on European and Euro-Atlantic defense policy.