The vote in the 193-member United Nations General Assembly was 143-5, with 35 abstaining, the world body’s strongest support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and annexation of the four regions.
The vote in the 193-member United Nations General Assembly was 143-5, with 35 abstaining, the world body’s strongest support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and annexation of the four regions.
The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to condemn Russia’s “attempt to illegally annex” four Ukrainian territories, and in its immediate reversal, strong global opposition to the seven-month war and annexation of its neighbour’s territory. Indicated the attempt of Moscow.
The vote was 143-5 with 35 votes in the 193-member world body. It was the General Assembly’s strongest support for Ukraine and against Russia among the four resolutions adopted since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on 24 February.
Ukraine’s UN ambassador, Sergei Kislitsia, called the vote “wonderful” and “a historic moment”. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said supporters were “taking our breath away” and called it “a memorial day”. EU Ambassador Olof Skog called it “a huge success”, which “sends a resounding message to Russia that they are isolated and isolated.”
US President Joe Biden said in a statement that the vote demonstrated to the world that “Russia is more united and more determined than ever to hold it accountable for its violations.” It is “a clear message” that “Russia cannot wipe a sovereign state off the map” and it cannot “change borders by force,” he said.
The Western-sponsored proposal was a response to Russia’s announcement last month of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions. Moscow took action after a Kremlin-orchestrated “referendum” that the Ukrainian government and the West dismissed as fake votes conducted on occupied lands amid war and displacement.
The emergency special session on Ukraine’s speaker resumed during two days of assembly speeches after the speaker accused Russia of violating key principles of the United Nations Charter – for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all UN member states. Respect.
Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, there was intense lobbying by supporters of the EU-backed resolution.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Kyslytsya, telescopes the general assembly ahead of the vote. photo credit: Reuters
US envoy Thomas-Greenfield told the assembly before the vote that when the United Nations was founded on the ashes of World War II, it was built on an idea – “that there will never again be a need for one country to take another’s territory by force.” will not be allowed.”
Later, she told reporters that the vote meant “in the eyes of the world and the United Nations, Ukraine has the same borders.”
“The resolution sends a very important signal to Moscow and all: it doesn’t matter whether you are a nation big or small, rich or poor, old or new. If you are a member of the United Nations, then Your borders are yours and are protected by international law,” said Ms Thomas-Greenfield. “They cannot be recreated by force by anyone else.”
A major issue for Western proponents of the proposal was how many countries would support it, and the result was beyond their most optimistic expectations.
The General Assembly voted 141–5 with 35 absentees on 2 March to demand an immediate Russian ceasefire, the withdrawal of all its troops and protection for all civilians. On March 24, it voted 140-5 with 38 votes on a resolution blaming Russia for Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis and urging an immediate ceasefire and protection for millions of civilians and homes, schools and hospitals.
But the assembly voted by a narrow margin on 7 April to suspend Russia from the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva, over allegations of infringing on the rights of Russian troops in Ukraine that the United States and Ukraine have called a war crime. . That vote was 93–24 with 58 votes.
A 2014 resolution reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and declaring a referendum that would have declared Russia’s Crimean peninsula illegal was adopted by a vote of 100-11 with 58 abstentions.
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia addresses members of the General Assembly ahead of the vote. photo credit: Reuters
Among surprising supporters of Wednesday’s resolution were “yes” votes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Brazil.
Russia’s UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, called on countries to vote against the resolution, calling it “a politically and openly provocative document” and describing its sponsors as “dishonest Western blackmailers”. . He regretted that the vote was not by secret ballot, as Russia demanded but was rejected by the Assembly.
Mr Nebenzia reiterated Russia’s claims that the referendum was valid, adding that “the population of these regions do not want to go back to Ukraine.”
The four countries that joined Russia in voting against the resolution were North Korea, Belarus, Syria and Nicaragua.
Ukraine’s Kyslytsya expressed deep regret that the four countries “made the wrong choice against the UN Charter” and urged them to reconsider their commitment to UN principles.
India abstinence
Of the 35 countries that did not participate, 19 were from Africa, including South Africa. China and India, the world’s two most populous countries, also did not part with Pakistan and Cuba.
The more powerful Security Council, whose resolutions are legally binding, has been barred from acting on Ukraine because of Russia’s veto power, which it used on September 29 to condemn Russia’s attempts to annex Ukraine’s territory. had to stop.
In contrast, the General Assembly, which does not have vetoes, has now approved four resolutions criticizing Russia on Ukraine. Its votes reflect world opinion but are not legally binding.
The resolution adopted on Wednesday declares that Moscow’s actions violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, are “inconsistent” with the principles of the United Nations Charter, and have “no validity under international law and the status of these territories.” of Ukraine”.
It demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
And it supports a “peaceful resolution of the conflict through political dialogue, negotiation, mediation and other peaceful means” that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders.
Many of the more than 70 speakers urged countries to negotiate an end to the war. The EU’s Skog called the appeal for a peaceful solution “very important”, but insisted it should be based on Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
There was strong support for the resolution during Wednesday’s debate.
Australian Ambassador Mitch Fifield called Russia’s effort an “illegal and dangerous escalation” and urged all countries to oppose acts of aggression.
Ireland’s ambassador, Fergal Meithen, said voters in the “sham” referendum in four regions “faced intimidation by the Russian military and Russia’s illegally appointed officials”.
Cambodian Ambassador Sovan Ke did not indicate how he would vote, but said that “the forcible annexation of territories by a sovereign state is a major violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, which is not acceptable” and urged that the international level Respected limits on fully respected. In the vote, Cambodia supported the proposal.
South Korea’s ambassador, Hwang Junkook, gave “unequivocal support” to Ukraine’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity. He said that his country’s “own traumatic experiences” after the 1950–53 Korean War could testify that any attempt to divide a nation in any form or manner could end up with very serious problems rather than solutions. is the beginning of.
On the other side of that division, North Korea’s ambassador Kim Song supported the “self-determination” of the people in the four regions annexed by Russia as a protected right in the United Nations Charter, saying the consequences should be respected.
He accused the United States and Western countries of “brutally” violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, under the “pretext” ever taken by the Security Council to promote international peace and security. His actions were also not questioned. , He argued that American interference in the internal affairs of countries continues even in the 21st century.
Syrian Ambassador Bassem Sabbagh accused the General Assembly of “open manipulation by some Western countries for their own geopolitical interests” and of efforts by countries to “isolate Russia and impose double standards”. urged to protest.