78th UNGA | U.S. President Joe Biden warns against appeasing Russia as Zelensky takes UN stage

At UN, Zelenskyy warns of world war if Putin not stopped; Biden urges Security Council to authorize multinational mission to Haiti to tackle gangs.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took centerstage at the United Nations on September 19 where U.S. President Joe Biden warned the world of consequences if it tries to “appease” Russia’s “naked aggression.”

Wearing the military fatigues that have become his trademark, Mr. Zelenskyy joined the annual UN General Assembly for the first time since the war.

Mr. Biden issued speech excerpts warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin — who did not come to New York — is expecting 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 UN Charter to appease an aggressor, can any member state feel confident that they are protected? If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?” Mr. Biden was to say.

“We must stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.”

Mr. Zelenskyy is also set to meet leaders with differing views including Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has previously said that Ukraine shared blame for the war and faulted the billions of dollars in Western military aid to Kyiv.

Mr. Zelenskyy, who until recently would travel in utmost secrecy, will on Wednesday also take part in a special session on Ukraine at the UN Security Council, where Russia is a permanent member wielding a veto over any binding actions.