The US President, Joe Biden, on Tuesday asked the world leaders gathered at the UN General Assembly to stand by Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invaders, expressing his hope that the Republicans in Congress will heed this call.
Joe BidenPhoto: Andrew Harnik / AP / Profimedia
- “Russia believes that the world will get bored and allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequences,” said Joe Biden in his speech at the UN General Assembly, according to Reuters and News.ro.
- “If we allow Ukraine to be mutilated, is the independence of any nation safe?” – the leader of the White House asked rhetorically.
Biden drew applause when he said the United States and its allies would stand by Ukraine’s fight for freedom. “Russia is solely responsible for this war,” said the US president. “Only Russia has the power to end this war immediately,” he pointed out.
Biden’s speech at the annual UN gathering was the centerpiece of his three-day visit to New York, which will include meetings with the heads of five Central Asian countries, as well as the leaders of Israel and Brazil.
Joe Biden, a Democrat, has made mobilizing US allies to support Ukraine a mainstay of US foreign policy, arguing that the world must send a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will not be able to outlast the West.
But Biden has faced criticism from Republicans who want the United States to spend less money on the war effort. Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has vowed to try to end the war quickly if he returns to power. Trump expressed skepticism about Washington’s commitment to traditional allies, including NATO, and was complimentary of Putin, Reuters notes.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Washington’s top Republican, has questioned whether the United States should continue spending billions of dollars on arms for Ukraine.
In his speech, Biden stated that Russia’s 2022 invasion and occupation of the territory of Ukraine violated the founding Charter of the UN, whose main principle is respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. His comments echoed what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said in his opening speech on Tuesday, saying Russia’s invasion had “unleashed a web of horror”.
The United States is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine
A Biden administration official said the president and US officials will also focus at the UN meetings on mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development and combating climate change.
A solid majority of Americans support arming Ukraine to defend itself against Russia and believe such aid demonstrates to China and other US rivals a willingness to protect US interests and allies, according to a June Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended in person and applauded Biden’s remarks before his own speech to the General Assembly, is due to visit Biden at the White House on Thursday and also meet with some congressional leaders.
The United States is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine to coincide with Zelenskiy’s visit, and Congress has been asked to approve billions of dollars more in security assistance for the rest of the year.
“We are confident that there will be bipartisan support for this. I think President Zelenski has it too,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.
Biden, meetings with Guterres, Lula da Silva, Netanyahu and other state leaders
After his speech, Biden was going to sit down with Antonio Guterres to discuss the hot spots of the world. Later, he will participate in a summit with the presidents of five Central Asian countries, a first. These are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, all former Soviet republics considered satellites of Moscow.
On Wednesday, Biden will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and will join him in an event with union leaders from Brazil and the United States. Also on Wednesday, Biden will have his first face-to-face meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since he regained power last December. Sullivan said the two would discuss “a vision for a more stable, prosperous and integrated region, and to compare notes on effectively countering and deterring Iran.”
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