78th United Nations General Assembly.

Excerpts of Remarks by President Joe Biden Before the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly:

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, and my fellow leaders, about a week ago, I had the honor of visiting the historic site of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India. There, I saw firsthand the progress that India has made in lifting millions of people out of poverty. And I reaffirmed America’s commitment to work with all nations to meet the challenges of our time, from climate change to pandemics to conflict, and to do so in a way that strengthens our shared humanity.

We’re also working with China where we can, because we see it everywhere. Record-breaking heatwaves in the United States and China. Wildfires ravaging North America and Southern Europe. A fifth year of drought in the Horn of Africa. Tragic, tragic flooding in Libya. Together, these snapshots tell an urgent story of what awaits us if we fail to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and begin to climate-proof the world.

We strongly support Ukraine in its efforts to bring about a diplomatic resolution that delivers just and lasting peace. But Russia alone, Russia alone bears responsibility for this war. Russia alone has the power to end this war immediately. And it’s Russia alone that stands in the way of peace because the Russians' price for peace is Ukraine's capitulation, Ukraine's territory, and Ukraine's children.

Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence. But I ask you this: If we abandon the core principles of the United States to appease an aggressor, can any member state in this body feel confident that they are protected? If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? I respectfully suggest the answer is no.