UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) – United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday accused Russia of making “reckless” and “irresponsible” threats to use nuclear weapons and said Moscow had violated basic principles of membership of the United Nations Nations invading Ukraine. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Biden criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for starting an unprovoked war that some 40 UN members were helping Ukraine fight through funding and weapons. Earlier on Wednesday, Putin ordered a Russian mobilization to fight in Ukraine and made a thinly veiled threat to use nuclear weapons, in what NATO called a “reckless” act of desperation in the face of an imminent Russian defeat. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Biden echoed that sentiment. “Again, just today, President Putin made overt nuclear threats against Europe, in reckless disregard for the responsibilities of the non-proliferation regime,” Biden said. “A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” he said. Biden said no one had threatened Russia, despite its claims to the contrary, and that only Russia had sought conflict, and used the UN arrangement to underline his view that Moscow had violated the body’s values. “A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded its neighbor, tried to erase a sovereign state from the map. Russia has shamelessly violated the basic principles of the United Nations Charter,” Biden said. “This war is about taking away Ukraine’s right to exist as a state, plain and simple, and Ukraine’s right to exist as a people. Wherever you are, wherever you live, whatever you believe, this should… run your blood cold.” Russia’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Biden’s remarks. While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in New York for the UN gathering, a deputy Russian ambassador to the UN was in the room for Biden’s speech.
COMPETING FOR INFLUENCE
U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 21, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/Pool read more The United States and Western allies are competing with Russia for diplomatic influence. The United States has acknowledged that some countries are concerned that the Ukraine war has drawn global attention away from other crises. read more Washington has also long jockeyed for dominance with Beijing. “Let me be direct about the competition between the United States and China. As we manage the changing geopolitical trends, the United States will act as a reasonable leader,” Biden said. “We are not seeking conflict. We are not seeking a Cold War. We are not asking any nation to choose between the United States or any other partner,” he said. Biden also called on China to suspend bilateral cooperation with the United States in climate talks after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. “The United States will work with every nation, including our adversaries, to solve global problems like climate change. Climate diplomacy does no favors to the United States or any other nation, and withdrawal hurts the entire world.” he said. Biden announced an additional $2.9 billion in U.S. funding to combat global food insecurity, building on the $6.9 billion in U.S. food security funding already committed this year. The United States has stepped up its focus on food security since Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine exacerbated a global food crisis already fueled by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of grain and fertilizer, and shipments have been disrupted by the war. Biden countered Russian complaints that Western sanctions are hurting its exports, stressing that US sanctions specifically allow Russia to export food and fertilizer and that “Russia’s war is what is exacerbating food insecurity.” He also urged countries not to stockpile grain while so many people are suffering: “In every country in the world, whatever separates us, if parents can’t feed their children, nothing, nothing else matters.” The United States accused China of hoarding grain. China’s grain stocks at the end of the 2021/22 season were estimated by the International Grains Council at 323.5 million tonnes, more than half of the world total of 602.9 million. They dwarf those of the United States, the world’s leading grain exporter, estimated at 57.5 million tons. Biden also pushed to extend a deal, brokered in July by the United Nations and Turkey, that allowed Ukraine to resume exports of food and fertilizer to the Black Sea. Russia has cast a shadow over whether the original 120-day deal should continue. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Reporting by Steve Holland and Michelle Nichols. additional reporting by Nandita Bose and Andrea Shalal. writing by Jeff Mason. edited by Jonathan Oatis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
