Russia and Climate Change Dominate UN General Assembly

KOMPAS.com - The Russian invasion of Ukraine and climate change dominated speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

The first day of the weeklong assembly saw leaders from across the world share their concerns about the quaking international order and global challenges such as hunger and climate change, which have been exacerbated by the war's effect on inflation, and food and energy prices.

Multiple leaders slam Russian invasion

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who appeared virtually from Ukraine, blamed Moscow for willingly causing the food crisis.

"Any state that provokes famine, that tries to make access to food a privilege, that tries to make the protection of nations from famine dependent on [...] the mercy of some dictator — such a state must get the toughest reaction from the world," Zelensky said.

He blamed Russian blockades of Ukrainian ports and other "immoral actions" for disrupting exports from the country, which under normal circumstances is a major agricultural producer.

"Russia must bear responsibility for this," he said.

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for reforms of the United Nations Security Council after expressing disappointment over the failure of the institution to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine because of Russia's veto right as a permanent member.

In his speech, Kishida said, "The foundation of the international order is violently shaken right now," implying that the United Nations had lost part of its impact in maintaining world peace.

French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to countries to not stay neutral and instead condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, declaring that the war amounted to a new type of imperialism.

Macron insisted that negotiations to end the war could only succeed "if Ukraine's sovereignty is respected, its territory liberated and its security protected.''

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "trying to blackmail the international community with food" through his invasion of Ukraine in February.

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"There is no peace with hunger, and we cannot combat hunger without peace," Sanchez added.