LONDON

Finnish president on Tuesday praised his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN chief Antonio Guterres “for their tireless efforts” for the Ukraine grain deal. 

“There was a global food crisis even before the Russian invasion to Ukraine. More than 800 million people in the world were chronically hungry. The war further worsens this calamity,” Sauli Niinisto said in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I would like to commend the UN secretary-general and the president of Türkiye for their tireless efforts to reach an agreement to secure Ukrainian grain transports. If implemented as foreseen, it will have a major impact on the lives of tens of millions of people in need.”

Condemning Russia’s “cruel and unprovoked” war on Ukraine, he said its “ripple effects … are already far-reaching and severe.”

He said the international community has the “common obligation to uphold the international rules-based order.”

“We can’t accept, condone or normalize grave violations of international law and human rights. A world where impunity prevails is unjust, unstable and dangerous. For all of us,” said Niinisto.

The Finnish leader emphasized the need for cooperation and dialogue to find solutions.

“Difficult times call for more diplomacy, not less. We must build and strengthen peace and prevent conflict wherever possible. That is the very core of the United Nations,” he said.

Niinisto warned that the world is facing “a triple crisis of energy, food security and finance” that is particularly dangerous for vulnerable countries.

He also stressed the need to bolster the “international arms control architecture,” warning that it is “increasingly challenged.”

He said the two biggest nuclear states, the US and Russia, “have a unique responsibility to advance nuclear arms control and disarmament.”

“We call on the United States and the Russian Federation to continue their dialogue on strategic stability with a view of achieving further cuts in their nuclear arsenals,” said Niinisto.

On the climate crisis, he said the world must take “urgent action on two fronts.”

“First, we must change our course before it is too late. Second, we need to help those urgently suffering and support those with fewer resources to deal with this threat,” he added.