The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly today to condemn Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of four Ukrainian regions and demand its immediate reversal, a sign of strong global opposition to the seven-month war and Moscow’s attempt to grab its neighbour’s territory.
The 193-member international organisation voted 143-5 with 35 abstentions.
Of the four resolutions the General Assembly has approved since Russian soldiers invaded Ukraine on February 24, it was the one that expressed the most support for Ukraine and against Russia.
Sergiy Kyslytsya, the ambassador of Ukraine to the UN, referred to the vote as “wonderful” and “a historic moment.” US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield described it as “a tremendous day” and stated that supporters were “holding our breaths.”
It is “a wonderful success” that “sends a thundering message to Russia that they are and remain isolated,” according to European Union Ambassador Olof Skoog.
The resolution was supported by the West in response to Russia’s last month stated annexation of the provinces of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine. Moscow reacted in response to Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” that the West and the Ukrainian government have rejected as sham elections held on occupied territory during times of conflict and dislocation.
The United Nations was founded on the principle that “never again would one country be allowed to acquire another’s territory by force,” according to US envoy Thomas-Greenfield, who addressed the assembly prior to the vote.
Following the vote, she informed reporters that “in the eyes of the world and the United Nations, Ukraine’s borders remain the same.”
The resolution also conveys a very significant message to Moscow and to everyone: It makes no difference whether your country is great or little, wealthy or impoverished, old or new. Your boundaries are your own and secured by international law if you are a UN member state, according to Thomas-Greenfield. They cannot be forcibly redrew by anyone else.
The “yes” votes from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council were among the resolution’s unexpected backers.
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, had urged nations to vote against the resolution, describing it as “a politicised and overtly confrontational document” and labelling its proponents as “scrupulous Western blackmailers.”
He expressed sorrow that a secret ballot was not used, as Russia had requested but the assembly had rejected.
Nebenzia reaffirmed Russia’s assertions that the votes were legitimate, stating that “the people in these territories do not wish to return to Ukraine.”
North Korea, Belarus, Syria, and Nicaragua were the four nations that joined Russia in rejecting the resolution.
Kyslytsya of Ukraine sincerely regretted that the four nations “made the incorrect choice against the UN Charter” and urged them to reevaluate their adherence to its tenets.
19 of the 35 nations that did not vote included South Africa and were from Africa. Along with Pakistan and Cuba, the world’s two most populous nations—China and India—also chose to abstain.
The veto power of Russia, which it used on September 29 to reject criticism of Russia’s attempts to annexe Ukrainian land, has prevented the more powerful Security Council, whose resolutions are binding, from acting on Ukraine.
Contrarily, the General Assembly, where vetoes are unheard of, has now ratified four resolutions criticising Russia over the Ukraine. Although not legally binding, its votes represent the consensus of the world.
The resolution passed today states that Moscow’s actions violate Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, are “inconsistent” with the UN Charter’s tenets, “have no legal standing under international law, and do not constitute the basis for any alteration of the status of these regions of Ukraine.”
It demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders”.
Furthermore, it advocates “the de-escalation of the current situation and a peaceful resolution of the crisis through political conversation, negotiation, mediation and other peaceful means” that respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and internationally recognised borders.
UN calls on Russia to stop its “illegal” annexations of Ukraine
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