Biden will speak to UN leaders, emphasizing American leadership

NEW YORK – President Joe Biden will use his annual address before UN General Assembly on Tuesday to make clear to world leaders — and U.S. voters in 2024 — that he has restored U.S. leadership on the world stage, which he said was weakened under previous leadership President Donald Trump.

White House officials said Biden would make clear to members of the world body that they would continue to support Ukraine’s defense efforts a nearly 19-month-old Russian invasion There is no end in sight.

Biden gave a taste of his thinking at two fundraisers on Monday evening. He told supporters that he was standing up to Vladimir Putin’s invasion and questioned whether Trump, the Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential election, would have even tried to help Ukraine stop Russia’s land grab if he had it would have been in force.

You can find a live stream of Biden’s speech here:

“I will not side with dictators like Putin. Maybe Trump and his MAGA friends can bend, but I won’t.” Biden told supporters at a fundraiser on Broadway.

There will be notable absences as the President makes his case to the General Assembly: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Chinese President Xi Jinping And Putin everyone skips the meeting.

For Biden, the more important audience for Tuesday’s speech may be closer to home, as he tries to convey to voters that he has deftly handled a complicated foreign policy agenda and that the experience that comes with age proved an asset has. It’s an argument the 80-year-old president will likely continue to make to counter skepticism — even within his own Democratic Party. among voters concerned about his age.

“We called on the world to support Ukraine and a united NATO because I was convinced from the beginning that Putin expected that NATO would not be able to hold together,” Biden said at another fundraiser on Monday. “He’s still trying. And our allies know once again that the United States can be counted on.”

Biden’s message of unwavering support for Ukraine will come true as Congress becomes increasingly divided over whether to provide additional funding to Kyiv.

Biden has requested a package of $13.1 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine and $8.5 billion in humanitarian aid. But conservative Republican lawmakers are pushing for sweeping cuts in federal spending, and some Trump-aligned lawmakers are specifically seeking to stop money going to Ukraine.

In addition to underscoring continued U.S. support for Ukraine, Biden is expected to address mobilizing global resources to combat climate change and strengthening multilateral organizations to support poor and middle-income countries, according to senior administration officials.

Biden wants to send a message that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of the U.N. charter and emphasize that every country has an interest in defending a nation’s sovereignty, especially when it is under attack, the Biden officials said Activities in New York previewed this week on condition of anonymity.

After his speech, Biden will meet with António Guterres, the UN secretary general, as well as leaders of the so-called C5 group of Central Asian states, which includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The meeting is expected to focus on regional security, trade, climate change, ongoing reforms to improve governance and other issues.

Xi has stepped up his own advertising for these countries. During his own summit with Central Asian leaders in May, Xi pledged to build more rail and other trade links with the region and proposed joint development of oil and gas resources.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters last week that Biden’s meeting with these leaders should not be seen as an attempt to balance Chinese influence in the region.

“Look, this summit is not directed against any country,” Sullivan said in a preview of the meeting. “It is a positive agenda that we want to develop with these countries.”

Officials downplayed the fact that the leaders of the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – Britain, France, Russia and China – will not be in New York this week, instead emphasizing the importance of Biden appearing at the annual meeting Diplomatic Forum.

However, Biden has no plans to attend a special climate summit that Guterres will host on Wednesday, where countries will be asked to come up with new ideas and proposals to further reduce emissions and combat climate change. Officials downplayed Biden’s absence from the climate summit, saying the issue would recur in the president’s remarks and events throughout the week. John Kerry, the US climate representative, is expected to take part in Biden’s place.

Biden plans to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday, as well Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Senior administration officials said the two leaders would discuss issues including Iran, but declined to elaborate.

Biden is scheduled to hold talks at the White House on Thursday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Kim reported from Washington.