The US chief’s Basic Meeting speech additionally painted Russia as an imperial menace to be confronted by the West
Addressing the UN Basic Meeting on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden accused Russia of imperialism and searching for to erase Ukraine as a state, whereas insisting the US doesn’t search battle, solely cooperation. Biden additionally endorsed increasing the UN Safety Council and limiting veto powers for its everlasting members.
“Russia has shamelessly violated the core tenets of the UN Constitution, no extra vital than the clear prohibition in opposition to international locations taking the territory of their neighbor by pressure,” Biden mentioned, accusing Moscow of trying to “erase a sovereign state from the map.”
He additionally insisted that “nobody threatened Russia” and that Russian President Vladimir Putin made “overt nuclear threats in opposition to Europe” and confirmed a “reckless disregard for the duties of the nonproliferation regime” within the handle to the nation broadcast earlier within the day.
Putin mentioned Russia was ready to make use of its nuclear deterrent to defend its territory from weapons of mass destruction, however didn’t title any particular targets.
“If nations can pursue their imperial ambitions with out penalties, then we put in danger all the things this establishment stands for,” Biden instructed the UN, including that the US needs to see the battle in Ukraine to “finish on simply phrases … that you simply can not seize a nation’s territory by pressure.”
Whereas not overtly calling for Russia’s expulsion from the UN or the Safety Council, Biden mentioned its members ought to “persistently defend the Constitution” and “chorus from the usage of the veto besides in uncommon, extraordinary conditions.” Washington additionally desires to broaden the variety of UNSC members, each everlasting and rotating, with “nations we now have lengthy supported,” he mentioned.
Biden accused Russia of “pumping out lies” about the reason for meals shortages, insisting that the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies “explicitly” permits Moscow to export meals and fertilizer with out limitation. The Russian Overseas Ministry has identified that the West has sanctioned all Russian transport and blocked insurance coverage, successfully blocking the cargo from reaching its vacation spot.
The American president additionally referred to as on international locations of the world to not restrict exports or “hoard” meals. A couple of dozen international locations – e.g. India, Indonesia, Kuwait, and Turkey – have imposed export controls this 12 months, in response to meals shortages, which Biden blamed on Russia and Moscow – on Western sanctions.
The US chief additionally insisted Washington doesn’t search battle, doesn’t pressure anybody to decide on between allying with the US or one other nation, and champions infrastructure investments to not create dependency, however to extend self-sufficiency.
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