The top official at the United Nations warned Tuesday that mounting tensions — spurred on by the war in Ukraine and climate change pressures — have created a moment of “colossal global dysfunction” amid multiplying crises facing humanity.
The alarming assessment by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres came in remarks opening the annual U.N. General Assembly gathering in New York, where rhetorical fireworks are expected to fly Wednesday when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov address the world body.
President Biden is also among the world leaders set to speak before the gathering Wednesday. White House officials say he plans to sharply rebuke Russia for its nearly 7-month-old invasion and call on world leaders to ramp up pressure on Moscow.