President Biden on Tuesday delivered his final address to the United Nations General Assembly, capping one of his last speeches on the world stage as president by striking an optimistic tone amid world crises.

The president recounted all the conflicts raging around the world when he was elected to Congress more than 50 years ago, ranging from the Cold War to wars in Israel and Vietnam. He promised global leaders that the world will make it through the current conflicts as it did in the 1960s.

“Things can get better. We should never forget that. I’ve seen that throughout my career,” said Mr. Biden, whose administration has been struggling for almost a year to negotiate a ceasefire in the Middle East.

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The fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has broadened in recent days to include cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Mr. Biden reiterated his support for a two-state solution to address the rising violence. He spoke out against both the terrorist actions against Israel and the suffering endured by the Palestinians living in Gaza.

“Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest. Even as the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to allow residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely,” Mr. Biden said.

He said leaders don’t have the luxury to “react with despair” as conflicts grow.

“Maybe because of all I’ve seen and all we have done together over the decades, I have hope,” Mr. Biden said. “I know there is a way forward.”

Mr. Biden also reaffirmed the U.S. support for Ukraine as Russia’s invasion into the country will soon enter its 20th month.

“Will we sustain our support to help Ukraine win this war and preserve its freedom or walk away, let aggression be renewed and a nation be destroyed?” Mr. Biden said. “I know my answer. We cannot grow weary. We cannot look away, and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine.”

Mr. Biden’s remarks came against the backdrop of a world in chaos. Violence is spiraling in the Middle East, the war between Russia and Ukraine shows no sign of abating and concerns are growing about China’s influence.

The president’s speech was also delivered as the U.S. presidential election enters its final stretch, with just weeks until Election Day. Mr. Biden offered a review of some of his foreign policy goals, knowing that either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump will be offering different solutions to these crises.

The Trump campaign immediately seized on Mr. Biden’s remarks, saying that the conflicts he was addressing were the direct result of his foreign policy. In an email, the Trump team said those crises are “the devastation wrought by four years of Harris-Biden and nothing can mask it.”

Mr. Biden acknowledged his decision to bow out of the presidential race but offered no new insight into his reasoning. He simply said that it was time for a “new generation of leadership to take my nation forward,” telling the world leaders some things are more important than staying in power.

The speech is part of Mr. Biden’s effort to cement his legacy as a foreign policy leader during his decadeslong political career. Over the weekend, Mr. Biden met with leaders of Indo-Pacific allies Japan, Australia and India at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Biden will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Thursday.

Also on Tuesday, Mr. Biden will host a summit with other world leaders to address synthetic drug threats, including illicit fentanyl. Republicans have blasted the president for not doing enough to tackle the flow of fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexican border.