Joe Biden demands Middle East ceasefire and urges world to stick with Ukraine in his fourth and final UN address as president

In his last address to the United Nations as president Joe Biden has demanded Israel and its enemies seek a permanent ceasefire while urging the world to stay united behind Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden waves as he leaves the stage during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

In his last address to the United Nations as president Joe Biden has demanded Israel and its enemies seek a permanent ceasefire while urging the world to stay united behind Ukraine in its efforts to repel Russia’s invasion.

As the Middle East appeared to be on the brink of all-out war, the president surveyed the grim state of international affairs, from Gaza and Ukraine to Sudan, in his fourth speech before the United Nations General Assembly, trying at times to sound a positive note that “things can get better”.

The 81-year-old president, whose term as president ends in late January, said the world faced an ‘inflection point in world history’ but that he “had hope” democracy and freedom would prevail.

“For the choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come,” he said, in remarks than ran a little over 20 minutes before a packed General Assembly Hall.

The president ranged over world affairs during his time in public office since 1972, when he was first elected to the senate, from the Cold War and the Vietnam War to the follies of US foreign policy in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Full scale war is not in anyone’s interest, even if the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible,” Biden said, as Hezbollah and Israel in recent days inched toward a full blown confrontation that could engulf Lebanon and potentially the rest of the Middle East.

His administration has repeatedly failed to bring the Netanyahu government and Hamas to the negotiating table after the terrorist group murdered around 1200 Israelis and foreigners last October, triggering the bloodiest war in the Middle East in decades leaving tens of thousands dead.

“Now is the time for the parties to complete these terms, bring the hostages home, and secure security for Israel and Gaza free of Hamas’s grip, ease the suffering in Gaza and end this war,” Mr Biden said.

World leaders gathered for the 79th United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), where each year heads of state and government have the opportunity to address the 193 member US General Assembly.

Mr Biden, speaking in the wake of Israeli airstrikes that head left hundreds dead throughout Lebanon, also took aim at Iran, which is the primary funder of terrorist groups that seek to destroy Israel throughout the Middle East.

“Together we must deny oxygen to its terrorist proxies ... and ensure that Iran will never, ever obtain a nuclear weapon,” he added in what was only once brief mention of Iran.

Mr Biden took to the podium a little after 10am local time where he sought to stress his foreign policy achievements, including a stronger NATO, a rejuvenated Quad, even as the world appeared increasingly to be wracked by turmoil.

“Our task, our test, is to make sure that the forces holding us together are stronger than those that are pulling us apart,” he said.

Speaking a day ahead of Ukraine’s president, who is expected to urge nations to embrace his ‘victory plan’, Biden urged the world to stay united behind Kyiv in its almost three-year-old attempt to eject Russia from its eastern territories.

“The good news is Putin’s war has failed, at its core aim he set out to destroy Ukraine, but it’s still free, and NATO is bigger, stronger and more united than ever before,” he told the audience of diplomats, some of whom periodically gave the president a round of applause.

Ukraine’s president Zelensky is expected to ask the US once again for permission to fire missiles deep into Russian territory at his scheduled White House meeting on Thursday (Friday AEST).

“The good news is Putin’s war has failed at his core aim. He set out to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine is still free,” Mr Biden said.

“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.’’

Mr Biden stressed the US sought peaceful competition with China, a few days after revealing in an apparent ‘hot mic’ moment during his meeting with Quad leaders that Beijing had been “testing’’ the US ‘aggressively’ throughout the Indo Pacific region.

“We recently resumed co-operation with China to stop the flow of deadly synthetic narcotics. I appreciate the collaboration. It matters for the people of my country and many others around the world,” he said.

The president drew praise for touching on his own decision not to seek a second term, including what some perceived as a subtle dig at his predecessor, Donald Trump.

“As much as I love the job, I love my country more. I decided after 50 years of public service, it is time for a new generation to take our nation forward,” Mr Biden said. “Some things are more important than staying in power.”