UN Security Council Opens Session On Russia Annexations

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 30: The UN Security Council on Friday opened a session on Russia's annexations of Ukrainian territory, with Moscow certain to veto a US-backed resolution of condemnation.

"This is exactly what the Security Council was made to do. Defend sovereignty, protect territorial integrity, promote peace and security," the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said at the start of the meeting.

"The United Nations was built on an idea that never again would one country be allowed to take another's territory by force," she said.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Albania, would condemn the "illegal" referendums held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine and call on all states not to recognize any changes to Ukraine's borders.

It also calls on Russia to withdraw troops immediately from Ukraine, ending an invasion launched on February 24.

The Security Council, led by France, went ahead with the session despite certainly that Russia -- one of five permanent members -- will veto it.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier Friday said that the United States would seek a vote at the General Assembly.

"If Russia blocks the Security Council from carrying out its responsibilities, we'll ask the UN General Assembly, where every country has a vote, to make clear that it's unacceptable to redraw borders by force," Blinken told reporters in Washington.

"Every country has a stake in condemning these steps," he said.

China Calls On Russia, Ukraine Not To Let War 'Spill Over'

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24s: China on Saturday at the United Nations urged Russia and Ukraine not to let effects of their war "spill over" and called for a diplomatic resolution.

"We call on all parties concerned to keep the crisis from spilling over and to protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in an address at the UN General Assembly.

Putin 'Shamelessly Violated' UN Charater: Biden

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21: US President Joe Biden tore into Vladimir Putin on Wednesday as he addressed the United Nations, saying the Russian leader "shamelessly violated" the UN Charter when he invaded neighbor Ukraine.

"Russia has shamelessly violated the core tenets of the United Nations Charter," Biden said as he addressed the annual UN General Assembly in New York.

Russian forces have attacked Ukrainian schools, railway stations and hospitals, as part of Moscow's aim of "extinguishing Ukraine's right to exist as a state," Biden said.

While delivering a rebuke to the Kremlin, Biden notably reached out to rivals on issues he said were of global importance, including climate change and nuclear arms control.

"A nuclear war cannot be won, and must never be fought," Biden said.

"We are seeing disturbing trends. Russia (is) making irresponsible nuclear threats to use nuclear weapons," he said.

However, "the United States is ready to pursue critical arms control measures."

While once again vowing that Washington will not allow Tehran to obtain atomic weapons, Biden also underlined that "diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome."

Biden's language was likewise relatively mild on China, the biggest geopolitical and economic rival to the United States.

"Let me be direct about the competition between the United States and China," Biden said. "As we manage shifting geopolitical trends, the United States will conduct itself as a reasonable leader. We do not seek conflict, we do not seek a Cold War."

He said that while "the United States will be unabashed in promoting our vision of a free, open, secure and prosperous world," it will not force countries to "choose" sides.

The US president expanded his cooperative message in addressing a longtime demand from developing economies around the world to be included in the UN Security Council, which currently only has five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

"The United States supports increasing the number of both permanent and non-permanent representatives of the council," Biden said.

"This includes permanent seats for those nations we've long supported -- permanent seats for countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean. The United States is committed to this vital work," he added.

Turning again to Iran, where rare protests have broken out over the death of a young woman arrested by the state's morality police, Biden said Americans "stand with the brave women. of Iran.

"Today we stand with the brave citizens and the brave women of Iran who right now are demonstrating to secure their basic rights," he said.