NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders on the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday to stand with Ukraine in opposition to Russian invaders, hoping Republicans in Congress may also take discover.
“Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence,” Biden mentioned in his speech to UNGA. “If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?”
Biden drew applause when saying that the United States and its allies would stand with Ukraine’s struggle for freedom. “Russia alone bears responsibility for this war,” the president mentioned. “Russia alone has the power to end this war immediately.”
Biden’s handle on the annual gathering was the centerpiece occasion of his three-day go to to New York, which can embrace conferences with the heads of 5 Central Asian nations, and the leaders of Israel and Brazil.
Biden, a Democrat, has made rallying U.S. allies to help Ukraine a number one element of U.S. international coverage, arguing the world should ship a transparent sign to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he won’t be able to outlast the West.
Biden has confronted criticism from some Republicans who need the United States to spend much less cash on the battle effort.
Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination within the 2024 presidential election, has vowed to search a fast finish to the battle if returned to energy.
Trump has voiced skepticism about Washington’s engagement with conventional allies, together with NATO, and has been complimentary of Putin.
House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the main Republican in Washington, has questioned whether or not the United States ought to preserve sending billions of {dollars} in weaponry to Ukraine.
In his speech, Biden mentioned Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and occupation of territory violated the founding U.N. Charter, a primary precept of which is respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
[1/5]U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing Rights
His remarks echoed these of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who in his opening speech to UNGA on Tuesday mentioned Russia’s invasion “has unleashed a nexus of horror.”
A Biden administration official mentioned Biden and U.S. officers would additionally focus on the U.N. conferences on mobilizing assets for infrastructure and sustainable growth and combating local weather change.
Solid majorities of Americans help offering weaponry to Ukraine to defend itself in opposition to Russia and imagine that such support demonstrates to China and different U.S. rivals a will to shield U.S. pursuits and allies, in accordance to a Reuters/Ipsos survey in June.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who attended and applauded Biden’s remarks forward of his personal speech at UNGA on Tuesday, was anticipated to go to Biden on the White House on Thursday and to meet some congressional leaders as effectively.
The United States is making ready a brand new navy support package deal for Ukraine to coincide with Zelenskiy’s go to, and Congress has been requested to approve billions of {dollars} extra in safety help for the remainder of the yr.
“We have confidence that there will be bipartisan support for this. I think President Zelenskiy does as well,” White House nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters.
After his speech, Biden was due to sit down with Guterres to focus on world scorching spots.
Later, he’ll attend a summit with the presidents of 5 Central Asian nations, a primary. They are Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
On Wednesday, Biden will meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and be a part of him in an occasion with labor leaders from Brazil and the United States.
Also on Wednesday, Biden can have his first face-to-face assembly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Netanyahu regained energy final December.
Sullivan mentioned they’d focus on “a vision for a more stable and prosperous and integrated region, as well as to compare notes on effectively countering and deterring Iran.”
Reporting By Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Grant McCool and Howard Goller
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