Editor's Note: The following is the full text of U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 28.
Here are the passages related to Ukraine and Russia:
Consider Russia’s annexation of Crimea and further aggression in Eastern Ukraine. America has few economic interests in Ukraine. We recognize the deep and complex history between Russia and Ukraine but we cannot stand by when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a nation is flagrantly violated.
If that happens without consequence in Ukraine, it could happen to any nation gathered here today. That is the basis of the sanctions that the United States and our partners impose on Russia. It is not a desire to return to a cold war.
Now, within Russia, state-controlled media may describe these events as an example of a resurgent Russia. A view shared, by the way, by a number of U.S. politicians and commentators who have always been deeply skeptical of Russia and seem to be convinced a new cold war is, in fact, upon us. Yet, look at the results.
The Ukrainian people are more interested than ever in aligning with Europe instead of Russia. Sanctions have led to capital flight. A contracting economy, a fallen ruble and the emigration of more educated Russians.
Imagine if instead, Russia had engaged in true diplomacy and worked with Ukraine and the international community to ensure its interests were protected. That would be better for Ukraine but also better for Russia and better for the world, which is why we continue to press for this crisis to be resolved in a way that allows a sovereign and Democratic Ukraine to determine its feature and control its territory. Not because we want to isolate Russia, we don’t, but because we want a strong Russia that is invested in working with us to strengthen the international system as a whole.
