New York - During the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, President Biden strongly criticized Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine, which has persisted for a second year.

He pledged unwavering support for the courageous people of Ukraine and cautioned fellow world leaders against appeasing Moscow. Biden emphasized the importance of upholding the core principles of the U.N. Charter, stating that compromising these principles to appease aggressors could jeopardize the security of member states and undermine the independence of nations. He stressed the need to confront Russia's aggression today to deter potential aggressors in the future.

The General Assembly, in its annual forum, called for cooperation among member states to address a range of global challenges, including climate disruptions, pandemics, and development issues faced by nations. President Biden also addressed the pressing need to protect and nurture democracies globally, highlighting the ongoing battle between democracy and autocracy in world history. He urged advanced nations to increase their efforts in supporting the economies of countries in the southern hemisphere.

Unity has been a recurring theme at the General Assembly, where leaders and representatives from nearly 200 nations convene. However, the world has become increasingly polarized, with Russia's conflict in Ukraine creating tensions between Moscow and the United States and its allies.

Simultaneously, tensions between China and the United States are on the rise. Some nations in the global south, encompassing developing and economically challenged countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, have expressed concerns that the West has disproportionately focused on the Ukraine conflict while neglecting their own crises.

Key points to note from the event:

The U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres, addressed the Assembly, describing catastrophic flooding in Libya as "climate chaos." He called for reforms in the Security Council and the redesign of international financial institutions. Guterres expressed concern about threats to democracy, the rise of authoritarianism, growing inequalities, and increased hate speech. He also reaffirmed his commitment to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Notably, the leaders of Britain, China, France, India, and Russia opted not to attend the General Assembly for various reasons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, spoke in person, drawing attention to the ongoing conflict and the need for continued military aid.

Other prominent speakers included Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, who addressed the Assembly amid a legitimacy crisis in Iran due to domestic uprisings. His speech followed a recent agreement with the United States that secured the release of prisoners and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and the leaders of Hungary and South Africa also delivered speeches during the Assembly meeting.

This year's General Assembly aimed to address the concerns of the global south, with a particular focus on the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals aim to assist developing and economically challenged nations in achieving objectives related to health, education, gender equality, and prosperity by 2030.