His tone contrasted with remarks earlier from UN Secretary General António Guterres, who warned global divisions were deepening.

Young voters are being courted with football slogans, promises of jobs and anti-Israel rallying calls.

Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman both have close ties to President Putin, and Kyiv said the move sent Moscow the wrong signals.

The defence deal signed at the UN General Assembly also re-affirms Denmark's sovereignty over its semi-autonomous Arctic territory.