Following Moscow’s use of the veto to block a similar draught resolution in the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly voted on Wednesday to strongly condemn the “illegal” annexation of areas of Ukraine by Russia.
Despite the considerable American diplomatic efforts, the decision was approved by the General Assembly with a majority of 143 votes; five countries opposed it, and 35 countries did not participate in the vote, including China, India, South Africa, and Pakistan.
The ruling denounces “the illegal annexation attempt” declared by President Vladimir Putin last month to four Ukrainian districts as well as “the Russian Federation Organization is an alleged referendum within the internationally recognised Ukraine borders.”
Moscow requests “prompt and unconditional decline” for its decisions, and the decision instructs all UN agencies and other international organisations not to recognise any border adjustments that Moscow announces.
The UN mission at the UN stated, “We welcomed the decision to censure Russia for our adherence to international law and promote the peaceful solutions to the Ukrainian-Russian crisis through dialogue.”
During an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly on Tuesday to examine the inclusion of Moscow for four Ukrainian areas, namely Logansk, Donetsk, Zaburijia, and Khairson, Moscow and Kiev traded accusations.
Russia’s ambassador to Ukraine at the UN has been called a “terrorist state” by Sergey Kisletsia.
After Russia launched missile attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities, he declared, “Russia has once again demonstrated that it is a terrorist state that should be deterred by the harshest available methods.”
He also accused Russia of seeking to destroy the United Nations and try to revive the Soviet belief, noting that the Russian doctrine opposes the United Nations Charter.
Vasily Nippinesia, the Russian representative to the UN, charged Kyiv’s government with refusing to let the people of Donbas decide their own fate.
He said that the Kyiv regime oppresses 40% of the country’s Russian-speaking people.
Attempts to condemn the “annexation” of Ukrainian territories were to be put to a vote in secret rather than in front of the general public, he said.
Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the four regions of Ukraine’s deal with Russia last week.
Putin’s endorsement followed last Tuesday’s majority decision by the Russian Federation Council to admit the Ukrainian regions of Logansk, Donetsk, and Khairsson to Russia.
The General Assembly of the United Nations criticises Russia
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