Donald Trump has spoken at length at the UN in New York, attacking the organisation itself, London’s mayor and NATO – while suggesting he could sanction Russia if European nations change course on oil. Watch and follow live below.
Tuesday 23 September 2025 18:57, UK
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Continuing with his shift in tone on Ukraine, Trump once again says “they’re very brave”.
“I mean look, they’re fighting and this is a war going on three and a half years,” he tells reporters in New York.
“People thought it would be over quickly because Russia is a big military power, and Ukraine, I tell you, they are good fighters.”
It marks a significant change in tone from Trump towards Ukraine, with that February Oval Office showdown springing to mind for most people when they see the US and Ukrainian presidents side by side.
We’re now hearing from Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they sit down for their meeting in New York.
Striking a notably warm tone, Trump calls his Ukrainian counterpart “a great man” and says “he’s putting up one hell of a fight”.
“We have great respect for the fight Ukraine is putting up, it’s pretty amazing actually,” he adds.
Trump also gives Zelenskyy an opportunity to talk about Ukrainian battlefield successes, saying: “Would you like to say how you are doing on the battlefield?”
Trump is asked by reporters whether he thinks NATO should shoot down Russian planes if they enter NATO airspace.
“Yes, I do,” the US president replies.
In a follow up question, when asked whether the US would support in shooting down Russian aircraft, Trump replies by saying it depends on the circumstances.
It comes after Estonia said last week that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes before NATO Italian fighter jets escorted them away.
The week before, around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO jets to shoot some of them down as the alliance beefed up its defence on Europe’s eastern flank.
Elsewhere, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will brief Trump on the battlefield, adding “we have good news”.
He says they will talk about security guarantees and the prospect of applying more pressure on Russia.
Donald Trump has been meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York after his speech at the UN General Assembly.
You can watch it back using the stream below.
Leaders are given 15 minutes to speak at the UN General Assembly, but Donald Trump’s speech went on for almost an hour.
So, why was that the case?
Our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn breaks it down in the video below – saying the US president “talked, and talked, and talked”.
Waghorn explains the speech was full of the “usual falsehoods”.
Watch his take…
Donald Trump is ready to impose “big tariffs” on Russia, a former US ambassador to Ukraine has said.
Speaking to presenter Gareth Barlow after Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly, William B Taylor said “Trump is ready, with European support, to put big tariffs on the Russians”.
“He’s been trying to do it for a long time, which is to stop the killing, to stop the war.
“He’s been talking about serious sanctions that will reduce the flow of funds to the Russians that enable them to continue this war, and he said that again today.”
Taylor explained that the security council has been unable to solve “the two main problems” – referring to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
“The security council has been blocked by the Russians, and has been unable to deal with making any progress towards a resolution of that war,” he added.
“The security council does face problems, that’s absolutely true, and I think everybody in that room recognises that.”
Russia has a veto on the UN Security Council as one of its key founding members.
Watch the full interview with Taylor below.
Donald Trump has a busy schedule after his speech at the UN General Assembly.
As we’ve been reporting, the US president will meet Arab leaders to discuss the situation in the Middle East and he will also hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He’s even had time to meet his close ally Javier Milei, the president of Argentina.
“Highly Respected President of Argentina, Javier Milei, has proven to be a truly fantastic and powerful Leader for the great people of Argentina, advancing on all levels at record speed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He said Milei inherited a “total mess” with “horrible inflation caused by the previous radical left president” who he likens to Joe Biden.
“We have had a tremendous relationship with Argentina, which has become a strong ally, thanks to President Milei,” he added.
“I look forward to continuing working closely with him so that both of our countries can continue on their incredible paths to success.”
Trump ended his post on Truth Social by endorsing Milei for re-election.
Watch live at the top of this page.
Donald Trump’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly lasted for more than 55 minutes – but he’s still not the longest speaker.
Trump broke his own personal record of a 42-minute speech at the UN in 2017.
His speech in 2018 lasted 35 minutes, while his address a year later lasted two minutes longer.
It means Fidel Castro still holds the record for the longest speech at the UN General Assembly, with his 1960 speech lasting more than four hours.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II is now speaking at the UN.
Remember, you can watch live at the top of the page.
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