Trending

Biden to UN General Assembly: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is ‘brutal, needless war’

NEW YORK — Addressing global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, President Joe Biden took direct aim at what he described as “a war chosen by one man, to be very blunt.”

>> Read more trending news

“This war is about extinguishing Ukraine’s right to exist as a state,” Biden said in the address, and made mention of “horrifying evidence” of war crimes committed by Russian forces during the invasion, The New York Times reported.

Biden left no room to question his commitment to supporting Ukraine, saying: “We will stand in solidarity against Russia’s aggression. Period.”

Biden accused Putin of starting “a brutal, needless war” and urged other world leaders to continue to hold Russia’s leader accountable for “trying to extinguish Ukraine’s right to exist as a state,” The Washington Post reported.

Wednesday’s address came as Putin announced plans to call up 300,000 reservists and accused the West of engaging in “nuclear blackmail,” The Associated Press reported.

The president also accused Putin of violating the United Nations charter by making “overt nuclear threats against Europe, and a reckless disregard for the responsibilities of a non-proliferation regime,” CNN reported.

Republicans did not immediately issue a response to Biden’s comments to the U.N. General Assembly.