US President Donald Trump warned Russia on Tuesday that he was prepared to impose strong economic measures if it failed to end the war in Ukraine, and rejected global moves to recognize the state of Palestine in a bellicose speech before the UN General Assembly.

In a wide-ranging foreign policy speech that included scathing criticism of the United Nations and European nations, Trump argued for lowering global migration and said world leaders must halt efforts to combat climate change, which he called the world's "biggest scam."

Overall, the 56-minute speech was a rebuke of the world body and a return to form for Trump, who routinely criticized the UN during his first term. Leaders gave him a polite round of applause as he left the assembly.

Trump's warning to Russia was his latest attempt to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has rejected the US president's calls to withdraw from Europe's largest war since World War II.

Trump said he wants US allies to take the same measures against Russia that he has proposed to pressure Putin. The US president has warned several times about possible sanctions against Russia but has not yet acted on them. Recently, he demanded that Europe stop all purchases of Russian oil before he takes action.

"If Russia is not prepared to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose very strong tariffs, which I believe would stop the bloodshed very quickly," he said.

However, for those measures to be effective, he said, "The European nations, all of you gathered here, must join us in adopting the exact same measures." He did not specify those measures, but he has been considering a package that would include sanctions on countries that do business with Russia, such as India and China. The main buyers of Russian oil in Europe are Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey.

Trump plans a meeting later this afternoon with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has been pressing the US for more support to counter Russia's advances. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump rejected efforts by world leaders to embrace a Palestinian state, a move that faced fierce resistance from Israel.

"The reward will be too great for the Hamas terrorists, for their atrocities," he said, reiterating his call for the return of the hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.

Trump said the United States wants a ceasefire agreement for the hostages that would return all remaining hostages, both dead and alive. "We must immediately stop the war in Gaza. We must immediately negotiate peace," he said. He will discuss Gaza's future in afternoon talks with several Gulf leaders. (alg)

Source: Reuters