In his first speech at the UN since invading Ukraine, President Biden accused Russian President Vladimir V. Putin of trying to “erase” another country off the map and pull the world back in time. of nuclear confrontation.
Hours after Putin issued new threats to mobilize Ukrainian reserves and deploy Russia’s nuclear weapons, Mr. Biden drew a sharp contrast between Russia and the West, and China’s own authoritarianism. He said that competition with China is intensifying as the company pursues a global vision.
“Let’s talk frankly,” Biden began his speech at the General Assembly, accusing Putin of violating the UN Charter. “A permanent member of the UN Security Council has invaded a neighboring country.”
Biden added that war would “extinguish Ukraine’s right to exist as a state.”
Biden continued, “If only nations could pursue imperial ambitions without consequences,” the post-World War II order would collapse. “We stand united against Russian aggression.”
The scope and poignant nature of Mr. Biden’s attack on Mr. Putin was astonishing. It was the most direct and sustained action by an American president against a single adversary of the United Nations since President George W. Bush called Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi government a “serious and looming danger” in 2002. Looked like a focal point.
“We’re not asking for a Cold War,” Mr. Biden told leaders, adding that he was asking other countries to choose between the United States and “other partners.”
However, the world he described had Cold War influences. Biden sees the United States and its allies as custodians of the fragile world order that has persisted since World War II, while seeking U.S. leadership on existential issues such as rising temperatures and slumping food supplies. trying to claim again. And he described Russia as the greatest threat to world peace, describing the Russian leader’s warning hours earlier as an “irresponsible nuclear threat” and warning against heeding.
“Nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought,” Biden said.
Used by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail S. Gorbachev in 1985, the phrase was used by all major nuclear powers in a joint statement on January 3, seven weeks before Putin’s aggression raised perhaps the greatest concern. Repeated. Nuclear weapons since the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago.
Biden’s speech came on the second day of the UN’s annual World Leaders’ Conference, at a moment of extraordinary crisis and upheaval: food shortages, floods, droughts, record heat waves, pandemics and inflation. In many of these arenas, the United Nations seemed powerless or paralyzed. One reason is that Russia, as a member of the Security Council, can veto resolutions condemning its actions. Mr. Biden has seized the opportunity to call for UN reform, but little seems imminent.
Both Putin and China’s Xi Jinping were absent from the event as war raged in Ukraine, but the conflict dominated the annual meeting of world leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the General Assembly in a pre-recorded video recorded in English from Ukraine.
“A crime has been committed against Ukraine. We demand just punishment,” Zelensky said, describing the death and destruction “that Russia has provoked in its illegal war.”
Mr Zelensky said the world must continue to be “united around those who fight aggression”.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces recaptured territory in northeastern Ukraine and, bit by bit, reclaimed territory in the south, prompting some world leaders to speculate that Putin would declare his goal accomplished and withdraw. Thought.
Instead, hours before the leader came to the rostrum of the General Assembly, he would double down, call for the mobilization of 300,000 Russian reserves, and give up his quest to eliminate Ukraine as an independent state. clarified that there is no
News of Putin’s combat speeches streamed to the cellphones of leaders and diplomats passing through the blocked streets of Manhattan’s East Side. Many were struck by the bluntness of his nuclear threat, which he said was “not a bluff”. Some people do.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview Wednesday that Mr Putin’s comments reflected how badly he had miscalculated in the invasion of Ukraine.
“He’s misguided, underestimated the situation, and hopeless,” Scholz said.
The allies mostly stuck together.
Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrellhas vowed new sanctions against Moscow, but the menu of available options has dwindled and the world’s 11th-largest economy last year has yet to be completely eliminated from global trade. Borrell said he would convene an extraordinary meeting of European foreign ministers in New York to discuss progress.
“President Putin says he is ready to use any weapon at his disposal. When someone says ‘everything’, he clearly means nuclear weapons,” Borrell said. “This is unacceptable to the international community. The United Nations must react this week.”
Biden also criticized the human rights records of the Iranian and Chinese governments.
He said the United States stands by “the brave citizens of Iran and the brave women who are demonstrating to secure their fundamental rights right now.” The 22-year-old woman was arrested last week by the state morals police on suspicion of violating the dress code.
And with negotiations over the revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which was scrapped by former President Donald J. Trump, stalled, Mr. Biden has threatened to use force if necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He implicitly threatened to do so, but said he wanted to prevent conflict.
“We will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons,” Biden said, adding that he “continues to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this result.”
Earlier Wednesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made his debut before the General Assembly, claiming his country is a model of justice and human rights.
Raisi’s remarks, a lengthy speech that blended religious sermons with political rhetoric, addressed the widespread anti-government protests that sparked a crackdown by the authorities, as well as the death of a young woman that sparked them. It wasn’t.
Several heads of state spoke of the increasing damage of climate change to poor people around the world, including cyclones in Madagascar, droughts in the Horn of Africa and floods in Pakistan.
Biden spoke of the $370 billion in new spending and tax incentives he signed last month aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as evidence of America’s leadership in the fight against climate change. He also announced that the United States would commit his $2.9 billion in new spending to address global food insecurity, exacerbated by both the war in Ukraine and climate change.
But leaders in Africa and elsewhere used their speeches to urge wealthy nations to do more and faster to stop global warming.
“Young people across the African continent are waiting for polluting countries to keep their promises,” Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina told parliament.
Biden acknowledged the debt at the beginning of a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday afternoon, telling Guterres: Global warming. “
Biden met with new British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Wednesday to discuss trade disputes stemming from the war and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. The President also met with French President Emmanuel Macron and gave his views to the Global Fund on the global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Zelensky’s speech aired shortly after Biden finished speaking at the Global Fund, returning the focus of the day to Putin and the damage caused by the invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky called on the UN to set up a special tribunal to hold Russia accountable and said Russia should be stripped of its veto power in the UN Security Council.
“Russia should pay for this war,” he said, “with its assets.”
Michael Crowley, Alan Juhas When Edward Wong contributed to the report.