Biden calls Russia’s war in Ukraine ‘shameless violation’ of UN charter

U.S. President Joe Biden declared at the United Nations on Wednesday that Russia’s “savage and unnecessary war” in Ukraine “brazenly violates the core principles of the United Nations.”

He said the war was an affront to the core of what the international body represented, as he wanted to unite allies to stand firmly behind the Ukrainian resistance.

Biden strongly condemned the seven-month-long Russian invasion and said reports of Russian abuse of Ukrainian civilians “should get your blood pumping.”

He criticized Russia this week for arranging a “sham referendum” on territory it has forcibly occupied in Ukraine.

“The permanent members of the UN Security Council have invaded their neighbours in an attempt to wipe a sovereign state off the map. Russia has shamelessly violated the core principles of the UN Charter,” he told the UN audience.

“We will stand united against Russian aggression, period,” Mr Biden said.

Mr Biden also highlighted the impact of the invasion on the world’s food supply, pledging $2.9bn (£2.6bn) in global food security aid to tackle war-induced shortages and the impact of climate change.

He praised UN-brokered efforts to create a corridor for Ukrainian grain exports by sea and called for the agreement to continue despite the ongoing conflict.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Mr Biden is also scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Wednesday and urged allies to meet the $18bn (£15.9bn) target to supplement the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and TB. malaria.

But at the heart of the president’s visit to the United Nations this year is his sweeping condemnation of Russia as the war in Russia approaches the seven-month mark.

Putin also announced a partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists on Wednesday and accused the West of “nuclear blackmail.”

Global food security funding includes $2 billion in direct humanitarian assistance through USAID, the White House said. The remaining funds will be used for global development projects aimed at improving the efficiency and resilience of the global food supply.

After two years of reduced events due to the pandemic, this year’s UN conference has returned to full in-person events.