Ukraine war, threatening nuclear disaster and highlighting U.N.'s divisions, taking center stage at General Assembly

United Nations — United Nations officials had hoped that this year's General Assembly in New York — the first annual gathering held by the nearly 200 nations of the global body since the coronavirus pandemic struck — would take a broad focus on the many crises facing humanity right now. But with the war in Ukraine threatening to add a nuclear disaster to that long list, it's hard to imagine the UNGA having much attention to spare on the other burning issues.

After two years of video and hybrid meetings, the World Series of diplomacy returns to New York this week: Representatives from 193 governments gathered in the iconic General Assembly Hall, including more heads of state than ever before, according to the White House.  

This year they meet as the ongoing war in Ukraine presents Europe with a very real nuclear threat. On Monday, Ukraine accused Vladimir Putin's regime yet again of "nuclear terrorism" after a Russian missile struck close to a nuclear power plant in the country's south.