'Somethings are more important than staying in power,' US President Biden gives final address at UN Assembly

U.S. President Joe Biden addressed world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly for the last time on Tuesday. He declared that Russia’s war in Ukraine has failed and emphasized the possibility of a diplomatic solution between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Biden, who has four months left in office, spoke about ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, and Sudan. These wars are expected to continue beyond his presidency, which ends in January.

Biden called on Israel and Hamas to agree on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal proposed by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. His statement was met with applause at the U.N. General Assembly.

Biden also addressed the war in Ukraine, a key issue during his presidency. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was present to hear Biden's speech. Biden remarked, "The good news is Putin's war has failed at his core aim. He set out to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine is still free."

President Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington on Thursday. During this meeting, Zelenskiy is expected to discuss a new peace plan for Ukraine. According to a U.S. official, the plan is likely similar to previous ones, which have included requests for additional weaponry and support for Ukraine's efforts.

He continued, "We cannot grow weary, we cannot look away, and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine, not until Ukraine wins with a just, durable peace."

President Biden announced on Tuesday that progress in achieving peace in the Middle East could enhance global security. He emphasized that such progress would help address "the ongoing threat posed by Iran."

He urged to calm tensions as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza threatens to spread to Lebanon. On Monday, Israel targeted over a thousand Hezbollah sites in Lebanon. Biden stated, "Full scale war is not in anyone's interest, even if situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible."

Additionally, President Biden highlighted the United States' approach to managing its competition with China. He stressed that the goal is to handle this rivalry responsibly to prevent it from escalating into conflict.