U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in Recent York City, U.S., September 19, 2023.
Mike Segar | Reuters
President Joe Biden forcefully urged members of the United Nations to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion in a speech on the General Assembly Tuesday, arguing that not doing so could be a violation of the group’s charter.
“Russia believes that the world will grow weary and permit it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence,” Biden said.
“But I ask you this: If we abandon the core principles of the UN Charter to appease an aggressor, can any member state feel confident that they’re protected? If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?” Biden said.
“The reply is not any. We must arise to this naked aggression today to discourage other would-be aggressors tomorrow.”
Biden addressed the leaders of not less than 145 countries. Amongst them was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was there in person for the primary time because the war began in February 2022
Zelenskyy gave a prerecorded speech to the General Assembly ultimately 12 months’s session.
4 out of the five everlasting members of the UN Security Council selected to skip the conference this 12 months: France, the UK, China and Russia will all be absent. America is the one member of that council present.
During his address, Biden reiterated his call from last 12 months’s session to expand the Security Council.
“We’d like to find a way to interrupt the gridlock that too often stymies progress and blocks consensus on the council,” Biden said. “We’d like more voices, more perspectives on the table.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sits with the Ukranian delegation next to the U.S. delegation through the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in Recent York City, U.S., September 19, 2023.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Biden said the U.S. “strongly” supports Ukraine because it looks for a peaceful diplomatic resolution to the war and stressed, “Russia alone — Russia alone — bears responsibility for this war.”
“America along with our allies and partners world wide will proceed to face with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity – and their freedom,” Biden said to loud applause.
Biden’s rallying cry is complicated though by the indisputable fact that a handful of hard-line Republicans in Congress are actively opposing more defense funding for Ukraine.
The White Home is searching for $24 billion in additional aid to Ukraine, which it hoped could be passed alongside a continuing resolution to maintain the federal government open while budget negotiations proceed. The measure has bipartisan support within the Senate but is held up within the House of Representatives.
In his speech on the UN Biden also stressed the importance of democracy.
“We is not going to retreat from the values that make us strong,” Biden said. “We are going to defend democracy, our greatest tool to satisfy the challenges we face world wide and we’re working to indicate how democracy can deliver in ways in which matter to people’s lives.”
Biden advocated for the continued existence of international institutions just like the UN, pointing to the need of worldwide collaboration to tackle challenges like climate change.
“America seeks a safer, more prosperous, more equitable world for all people, because we all know our future is certain up with yours. And no nation can meet the challenges of today alone.”
