As the UN’s annual main policymaking gathering gets underway in NYC— questions about the need for and purpose behind the organization are being revived

On Wednesday, world leaders descended upon New York City for the United Nations General Assembly.

But hanging over the annual meetings is a new threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin to wage nuclear war months after he launched a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine.

There’s also huge concern that China could follow suit and invade Twain.

In his speech to the 77th Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, President Biden condemned Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, saying it attempted to “erase a sovereign state from the map.”

The president also reacted to Russian President Putin’s speech mobilizing more reservists to fight in the war in Ukraine.

President Biden called out Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons, as well as his planned “sham referenda” aimed at annexing Russian-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine.

The president pledged to stand with Ukraine while fighting against Russian aggression. He also called on the United Nations to do the same.

However, many critics say President Biden want’s tough enough as he did not and will not call for Russia be removed from the U.N. Security Council even as Putin renews threats of nuclear weapon use hours before the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the on-going war in Europe is reviving questions about the need for and purpose behind the United Nations which U.S. taxpayers help prop up with billions of dollars every year.

China is a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council yet continues to commit genocide among Uighur Muslims and Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council has the power to veto anything that Russia doesn’t like. These and other shortcomings are prompting calls that the U.N. is falling short of its international expectations.