U.S. President Donald Trump strongly criticized Western moves to recognize Palestinian statehood in his U.N. General Assembly address and warned Russia of powerful tariff pressure.
In a keynote address at U.N. headquarters in New York on the 23rd (local time), President Trump said, "Some countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia are trying to unilaterally recognize Palestine as a state, but that is excessive compensation for Hamas' atrocities," adding, "Since the Oct. 7 surprise attack, Hamas has refused to release hostages and to agree to a cease-fire. Recognition would instead reward their terror." He said, "Those who want peace must unite around one message: 'Release the hostages,'" urging an immediate halt to the war and negotiations.
Trump then pressed European countries, saying they should "immediately stop purchasing Russian energy." He said, "China and India are buying Russian crude, providing funds for the war, and even NATO member states are not cutting their dependence on Russian energy," and emphasized, "If Russia does not enter into a peace agreement, the United States is prepared to implement powerful tariff measures that will quickly stop the bloodshed. But for them to be effective, Europe must join in."
Trump also said the United States will take the lead in strengthening enforcement of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) by using an artificial intelligence (AI) verification system.