President Pavel: Russia poses direct threat to European security

Russian aggression poses a direct threat to European security and the risks are growing, President Petr Pavel said in an address to the UN General Assembly in New York. He pointed to a recent attempted drone attack near Leipzig as an example of the immediacy of the threat. He also said Russia’s war was undermining global food security and disrupting agricultural production, exports and supply chains, with particularly serious consequences for countries dependent on stable and affordable food supplies.

Pavel reiterated that Russia was waging its war in violation of the UN Charter and international law and called on China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, to use its influence to help end the aggression against Ukraine. He also stressed the importance of diplomacy and the UN as a forum for dialogue. Addressing artificial intelligence, Pavel warned against an unchecked race for technological dominance and called for international standards, public oversight and clear accountability mechanisms.