H.E. Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President
September 21, 2022 On the same subject : Europe Travel Restrictions, Covid-19 Testing Requirements, by Country, for July.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, President of the United States, said that in the last year our world has experienced a great upheaval. Growing crisis and food insecurity, record heat, floods and droughts, COVID-19, inflation and a brutal needless war chosen by one man. A permanent member of the Security Council attacked its neighbor and tried to wipe the sovereign state off the map, he warned, adding that the Russian Federation had shamelessly violated the fundamental provisions of the United Nations Charter. Just today, President Vladimir Putin threatened Europe with nuclear weapons in defiance of the non-proliferation regime; furthermore, the Russian Federation is calling for more troops to join the fight, and the Kremlin is organizing fake referendums to try to annex parts of Ukraine. Mr. Putin claims he had to act because his country was threatened; however, no one threatened the Russian Federation and no one except Moscow sought conflict. In fact, the United States warned it was coming. Just before the invasion, Mr Putin claimed that Ukraine was “created by the Russian Federation” and had never had “real statehood”. Referring to the attacks on schools, railway stations, hospitals and centers of Ukrainian history and culture, he emphasized that this war is about extinguishing Ukraine’s right to exist as a state.
Drawing attention to the enormous humanitarian aid and direct economic support his country has provided to Ukraine, more than $25 billion to date, he stressed that more than 40 countries have given billions to help Ukraine defend itself. “We chose freedom. We chose sovereignty. We have chosen the principles that each party to the United Nations Charter adheres to. We stood by Ukraine,” he asserted. Ukraine has the same rights that belong to any sovereign nation, he said, rejecting the use of war to conquer peoples and expand borders through bloodshed.
Calling for greater inclusion, he said Security Council members should defend the Charter and refrain from using the veto except in emergency situations to ensure the body remains credible and effective. For this purpose, he expressed his support for increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent representatives in the Council, including permanent seats for the countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The United States is ushering in an era of ruthless diplomacy to address challenges such as combating climate change, strengthening global health security, and feeding the world. His climate agenda has included rejoining the Paris Agreement, convening two major climate summits, helping to limit two-thirds of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) to 1.5°C, and now signing historic legislation that includes the largest climate commitment the United States has ever made. ever committed: $369 billion for climate change.
Referring to global crises, he recalled that a large part of Pakistan is still under water, while the Horn of Africa is facing an unprecedented drought. “This is the human cost of climate change, and it’s growing,” he said. On global health, he commented that the United States has delivered more than 620 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 116 countries around the world, all free of charge. With 193 million people around the world facing acute food shortages, he announced another $2.9 billion in life-saving humanitarian aid and food security support for 2022 alone. Meanwhile, he continued, the Russian Federation is peddling lies trying to blame the food crisis blame the crisis on the sanctions imposed by many in the world because of the aggression against Ukraine. “Our sanctions specifically allow Russia the ability to export food,” he stressed, adding that only Moscow can end food insecurity. “Nothing else matters if parents can’t feed their children,” he noted, urging all countries to refrain from banning food exports or stockpiling grain while so many people are suffering.
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He went on to emphasize the United States’ commitment to working with every nation, including competitors, to address global issues such as climate change. Speaking about the competition between the United States and China, he said his country does not seek conflict or a cold war. Seeking to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the United States remains committed to its one-China policy, which has helped prevent four decades of conflict, he said, adding that his country will continue to oppose unilateral changes to the status quo by either side. He further called for dialogue led by Venezuela and a return to free and fair elections, expressed support for Haiti, which is facing politically motivated gang violence and a massive humanitarian crisis, and reiterated his commitment to continue supporting the United Nations-mediated ceasefire in Yemen. “Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” he asserted, expressing concern over disturbing trends being introduced by the Russian Federation, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and China. “Without any transparency, China is taking unprecedented action on nuclear buildup,” he said, stressing that the United States “will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.”
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