Presidential Debate at CNN headquarters, Atlanta GA: on War & Peace

Joe Biden: 3-stage plan for Gaza; only Hamas opposes it

BIDEN: "Number one, everyone from the United Nations Security Council straight through to the G7 to the Israelis & Netanyahu himself have endorsed the plan I put forward, which has three stages to it. The first stage is to treat the hostages for a ceasefire. Second phase is a ceasefire with additional conditions. The third phase is know the end of the war. The only one who wants the war to continue is Hamas, number one. They're the only ones standing down [on accepting the Biden plan]. We're still pushing hard to get them to accept." [See FactCheck confirming United Nations acceptance].

Joe Biden: FactCheck: Yes, UN accepted Gaza peace plan

The United Nations Security Council has endorsed President Biden's step-by-step plan  to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. After a 14 to 0 vote, with Russia abstaining, the U.S. Ambassador said the council is sending a clear message to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Biden administration says Israel already accepted the deal. Hamas called off negotiations after Israel rescued four hostages held in Gaza in an operation [in early June 2024] that also killed more than 270 Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not [accepted the deal] outright.

Donald Trump: I think Biden encouraged Russia to invade Ukraine

TRUMP: As far as Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, a president that knew--that was respected by Putin, he would have never--he would have never invaded Ukraine. A lot of people are dead right now, much more than people know. You know, they talk about numbers. You can double those numbers, maybe triple those numbers. [Biden] did nothing to stop it. In fact, I think he encouraged Russia from going in.

Q: Are Putin's terms acceptable to you, keeping the territory in Ukraine?

TRUMP: No, they're not acceptable. But look, this is a war that never should have started. I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I'll have that war settled. People being killed so needlessly, so stupidly, and I will get it settled and I'll get it settled fast before I take office.

Joe Biden: Putin is a war criminal and won't stop at Ukraine

TRUMP: No, they're not acceptable. But look, this is a war that never should have started. I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I'll have that war settled. People being killed so needlessly, so stupidly, and I will get it settled and I'll get it settled fast before I take office.

BIDEN: The fact is that Putin is a war criminal. He's killed thousands and thousands of people. And he has made one thing clear, he wants to re-establish what was part of the Soviet Empire, not just a piece, he wants all of Ukraine. That's what he wants. And then do you think he'll stop there? Do you think he'll stop if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland? What do you think of Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries?