Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine will dominate the decisive debate UNGA: ANALYSIS

As the 79th United Nations General Assembly opens in New York this week, more than 100 heads of state and government from around the world are gathering for a high-level summit to address the world's most pressing challenges.

This year's annual meeting also gives President Joe Biden the opportunity to deliver his swan song on the international stage in a speech to diplomats from around the world on Tuesday morning.

However, most of the Biden administration's diplomatic agenda for the meeting is expected to be set behind the scenes in key sideline meetings as U.S. diplomats race against time to contain the escalating conflict in the Middle East and ensure Ukraine can fend off the Russian advance.

All eyes are on the Middle East

Even though the UN headquarters is on the other side of the world away from the Middle East conflict, the greatest concern of many UN members is the Israeli military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the increasing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Israel appears to have opened a new chapter in its fight against Hezbollah, a US-designated terrorist organization operating in Lebanon, infiltrating the group's communications system with explosive devices and stepping up airstrikes against its top officials.

Watch “Good Morning America” Tuesday at 7 a.m. ET to see Robin Roberts’ exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr and First Lady Olena Zelenska.

While U.S. authorities have been working for nearly a year to prevent the war between Israel and Hamas from escalating in the region, the Biden administration's response to the latest escalation has been relatively muted. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has had several phone calls with his Israeli counterpart, but neither he nor Secretary of State Antony Blinken have plans to travel to the Middle East to cool tensions.

Notably, the State Department has also not made public recent phone calls between Blinken and Israeli officials.

But the UN General Assembly will bring the issue – as well as Israel's ongoing war in Gaza – to the US government's doorstep. US officials are expected to hold confidential talks to plan their next steps. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will also address the General Assembly later this week, highlighting the deep, polarising roots of the conflict.

Iran is the main backer of Hamas and Hezbollah and the country's newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, is scheduled to give a speech on Tuesday.

The Biden administration is also expected to quietly try to push forward a deal to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. But U.S. officials are not optimistic, as the latest round of negotiations led by American, Qatari and Egyptian mediators has stalled for weeks.

Earlier this month, Blinken promised that a new US peace proposal for Gaza would be presented to Israel and Hamas “in the coming days.” So far, that proposal has not been implemented, and criticism of the administration for not having a “Plan B” to end the war is growing louder.

As the war between Israel and Hamas has progressed, the UN has proven to be a politically sensitive forum for the Biden administration. As a permanent member of the body's Security Council, the US has used its excessive power to block resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an attempt to grant full member status to Palestine, a UN observer state.

In each case, American diplomats issued explanations for why they opposed the proposals – arguing that the measures were at odds with ongoing peace efforts. Nevertheless, the public votes have exposed the United States to critical scrutiny and often forced the administration to take a position that was at odds with the views of most UN members.

A peace plan for Ukraine

During Biden's first speech to the General Assembly as president in 2021, he did not mention Ukraine once.

Meanwhile, supporting the country and its fight against Russia's large-scale invasion has become a central focus of the Biden administration. But the war, now in its third year, shows no signs of resolution.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in New York on Sunday and says he will present what he calls a “victory plan” to the United States and other Ukraine allies this week.

Zelensky's proposal consists of five different points and includes concrete plans for additional military aid. According to Kiev, this is necessary to force Russia to end its aggression once and for all, according to a source close to the Ukrainian president.

“We have two paths – either through force or diplomacy,” the source told ABC News, adding that the plan does not involve any concessions to Moscow.

U.S. officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet signaled a real willingness to negotiate with Ukraine, let alone lay down arms entirely. But the administration's UN ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, spoke positively of Zelensky's proposal.

“We believe it represents a strategy and a plan that can work. And we need to see how we can promote that as we speak to the heads of state of all the countries who will be here in New York,” she said. “Hopefully we can make some progress on that.”

It is still unclear how Zelensky's plan differs from the ten-point peace formula he outlined at last year's meeting, which did not significantly boost support for Ukraine.

The Biden administration has promised that Ukraine's success will not rest on the shoulders of any one country, but rather on a broad network of allies. But with the US presidential election looming, politicians can only make limited promises regarding US support.

Vice President Kamala Harris has vowed that if elected, she will “stand firmly with Ukraine,” while Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed skepticism, calling Zelensky “the biggest salesman.” And no matter who wins the White House in November, the administration will be largely dependent on Congress approving the funds.

Haiti, Venezuela and beyond

The Biden administration also hopes to raise awareness of a number of other issues during the General Assembly, including one in which the UN already plays a direct role: the ongoing turmoil in Haiti.

The UN authorized a Kenyan-led security mission in 2023 to combat the gang violence that has rocked the island nation. Police have been deployed for just over three months but have made only modest progress in restoring law and order.

With the mission's UN mandate expiring next month, US officials said a priority this week will be to build support for a sustained intervention – possibly by transforming the mission into a full-fledged UN peacekeeping mission.

Thomas-Greenfield also said the U.S. would focus attention on another issue in the Western Hemisphere – Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who the Biden administration says is clinging to power despite losing the presidential election in July.

“We want to address this issue in New York,” she said. “I know there are countries that are raising this concern and we will hold meetings on this.”

In addition, the Biden administration will try to gain support for its plan to expand the UN Security Council by creating two permanent seats for African states.