In his annual address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Joe Biden stressed the need for global unity in protecting Ukraine from Russian aggression. He warned that if Ukraine is allowed to be partitioned, no country’s independence will be safe. Biden called on world leaders to continue supporting Ukraine and not give in to Russia’s hopes of wearing down support for Ukraine. He emphasized that if the core principles of the United Nations Charter are abandoned, member states will lose confidence in their protection. Biden highlighted the US’s support for Ukraine’s efforts to repel Russian aggression, which has been ongoing for almost 19 months.
Biden sees the annual UN General Assembly as an opportunity to demonstrate America’s re-established leadership on the world stage and appeal to voters. He contrasted his stance against President Vladimir Putin’s aggression with the possibility of Trump being in power in 2024. Biden emphasized his commitment to not side with dictators like Putin and his determination to stand up against Russian land grabs. Notably absent from the General Assembly were British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Chinese Presidents Xi Jinping and Putin.
Biden’s unwavering support for Ukraine will continue to be tested as Congress debates additional funding for Kiev. Conservative Republicans are calling for federal spending cuts, some of which target funding for Ukraine. In addition to supporting Ukraine, Biden is expected to discuss mobilizing global resources to combat climate change. He aims to strengthen multilateral organizations and provide assistance to poor and middle-income countries. Biden wants to convey the message that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violates the United Nations Charter and that countries must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty when it is under attack.
After his speech, Biden will meet with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and leaders from Central Asian countries. President Xi Jinping is actively seeking partnerships with these countries, focusing on regional security, trade, climate change, governance reforms, and other issues. Biden will not attend a special climate summit hosted by Guterres but will be represented by US climate envoy John Kerry. Kerry is also scheduled to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden is slated to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House later in the week.