Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assumed a prominent role on the global stage at the United Nations on Tuesday, where US President Joe Biden issued a stern warning against attempts to “appease” Russia’s “brazen aggression.”
In his distinctive military attire, Zelensky made his debut appearance at the annual UN General Assembly since the onset of the conflict and attentively absorbed Biden’s call for unity against Russia’s invasion.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin opted to stay away from New York, Biden asserted that Russia was counting on the world’s weariness to permit its brutalization of Ukraine without repercussions. “But I pose this question: If we forsake the fundamental principles of the UN Charter to pacify an aggressor, can any member state within this assembly truly feel secure in their protection? If we permit Ukraine to be dissected, can any nation’s sovereignty be guaranteed?” Biden inquired.
“We must confront this blatant aggression today to deter potential aggressors tomorrow.”
Biden garnered applause from the assembly when he emphasized the importance of preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity. However, notable world leaders, including China and Western allies Britain and France, chose to skip this year’s UN session.
Zelensky is scheduled to engage with leaders who hold less favorable views toward Ukraine’s plight, including Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who previously suggested Ukraine bore some responsibility for the conflict and criticized Western military aid to Kyiv.
Lula, positioning himself as a neutral mediator, stressed the necessity of creating room for negotiations. “Significant investments have been made in weaponry, while development receives minimal attention,” Lula remarked.
Zelensky, who until recently traveled in utmost secrecy, will participate in a special UN Security Council session on Ukraine, where Russia, as a permanent member, wields a veto over any binding actions. He is also scheduled to visit Washington.
During a visit to a New York hospital treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers, Zelensky lamented that the United Nations still harbors “a sanctuary for Russian terrorists.”
Amidst the General Assembly’s unanimous criticism of Russia’s February 2022 invasion, developing countries voiced concern that the focus on the conflict has diverted attention from other pressing global priorities.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a somber address, highlighting recent floods in Derna, Libya, which claimed thousands of lives. “Even as we speak, bodies are washing ashore in the same Mediterranean Sea where billionaires bask on their super yachts,” Guterres observed.
“Derna serves as a sorrowful snapshot of the world’s current state – an inundation of inequality, injustice, and an inability to confront the challenges before us.”
In a similarly grave tone, Biden referenced the flooding, wildfires in North America and Europe, and drought in the Horn of Africa. “Taken together, these snapshots tell an urgent tale of what awaits us if we fail to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and begin fortifying our world against climate-related challenges,” Biden warned.
During his UN visit, Zelensky is slated to hold meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a key ally. Scholz expressed concerns about “new rifts” emerging globally, emphasizing the resurgence of imperialism.
Addressing the issue of US-China tensions, Biden reassured the world about the intense competition between the two nations, aiming to prevent a potential new Cold War. “Regarding China, let me be unequivocal and consistent. We aim to responsibly manage the rivalry between our nations, preventing it from escalating into conflict,” Biden declared.
Meanwhile, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng engaged in discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the General Assembly, marking the second high-level meeting within days aimed at managing tensions between the two superpowers.
One notable absence on the UN’s agenda is a meeting between Biden and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi arrived at the United Nations as Iran and the United States completed a prisoner exchange, following Biden’s efforts to release $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil revenue in South Korea.
Facing domestic criticism for the deal with their arch-enemy, Biden pledged at the United Nations to do everything in his power to prevent the clerical state from acquiring nuclear weapons.
By AFP
