UNITED NATIONS: U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Russia that he is ready to take strong economic actions regarding the conflict in Ukraine and vetoed a world trend toward the recognition of a Palestinian state, during a confrontational address to the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA).
In his initial U.N. speech since being restored to office in January, Trump addressed dozens of global leaders, many of whom have been shocked to witness the United States abandon long-standing partnerships in the interest of an isolationist “America First” strategy.
Trump’s threat to Russia was full of twist. He announced that he wants U.S. allies to impose the same steps on Russia that he is calling for in a bid to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to retreat from the largest war in Europe since World War Two.
The U.S. president has cautioned the threat of sanctions on Russia numerous times before, but has not yet acted. Recently, he has insisted Europe halt all Russian oil imports before he will act.
In the event that Russia is not prepared to make a deal to bring about an end to the war, then the United States is more than happy to impose a very severe round of very powerful tariffs, which would bring an end to the bloodshed, I think, very quickly,” he said.
But in order for the measures to be effective, he said, “European nations, all of you here present, would need to join us in taking the very same measures.”
He planned a meeting later in the day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Dozens of world leaders gathered at the United Nations on Monday to embrace a Palestinian state, a landmark diplomatic shift that faces fierce resistance from Israel and its close ally the United States.
Trump rejected statehood for Palestinians, adopting the stance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump strikes Russia, supports Israel in aggressive UN speech
“The incentives would be too strong for Hamas,” he repeated, again calling for hostages held by the Palestinian militant group to be returned.
Trump indicated the United States wishes a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement under which all remaining hostages, both alive and dead, would be returned.
“We must end the war in Gaza right now. We must negotiate peace right away,” he said.
CRITICISM OF MIGRATION POLICIES
Trump insisted that other countries should adopt his hardline policy on migrants, boasting of his own attempts to arrest and deport illegal migrants in the US, a measure that several nations across the globe have received skeptically.
“It’s destroying your country, and you have to do something about it on the world stage,” he declared.
Trump, who has positioned himself as a peacebroker in an effort to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, groused that the United Nations failed to rally behind him to resolve conflicts globally.
He paired his complaint with a personal beef regarding the U.N.’s facilities, stating he and first lady Melania Trump were left stranded on a U.N. escalator for a moment and that his teleprompter was not working at first.
Read More: NATO warns Russia ‘must stop’ air violations on eastern flank
