UN asks Russia to reverse ‘illegal’ annexation of Ukraine

The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to condemn Russia’s “attempt to illegally annex” four Ukrainian territories and demand their immediate withdrawal, signaling a global backlash against the seven-month-long war and Moscow’s attempt to seize territory from its neighbors.

In the 193-member world body, the vote was 143 to 5, with 35 abstentions.

It was the strongest support for Ukraine and against Russia in the four resolutions passed by the General Assembly since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24.

The resolution proposed by the West is in response to Russia’s announcement last month to annex Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.

Moscow has acted in the wake of a Kremlin-orchestrated “referendum” that the Ukrainian government and the West have seen as a sham vote on occupied land during war and displacement.

In two days of speeches resumed at the General Assembly’s emergency special session on Ukraine, a speaker accused Russia of violating key principles of the UN Charter — respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all UN member states.

Before the vote, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that when the United Nations was established from the ashes of World War II, it was founded on the idea that “one country should no longer be allowed to seize another country’s territory by force”. Up.

She said the facts were clear that a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power was attempting to annex a neighbour’s territory by force, and she urged all countries to condemn Russia’s annexation.

A key question for Western supporters of the resolution was how many countries would support it, with results exceeding their most optimistic expectations.

The assembly passed by a vote of 141 to 5, with 35 abstentions, on March 2, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Russia, the withdrawal of all troops and the protection of all civilians.

On March 24, by a vote of 140 to 5, with 38 abstentions, it passed a resolution that blamed Russia for Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis and urged an immediate ceasefire and protection of millions of civilians and threats to their survival until vital homes, schools and hospitals.

But the General Assembly voted on April 7 by a much smaller vote to suspend Russia’s participation in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, citing allegations that Russian soldiers in Ukraine were involved in what the United States and Ukraine have called war crimes. That vote was 93-24, with 58 abstentions.

A 2014 resolution passed 100 to 11, with 58 abstentions, affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and outlawing the referendum that led to Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Surprises in support of Wednesday’s resolution included affirmative votes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Brazil.

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, called on countries to vote against the resolution, calling it a “politicized and publicly provocative document” and condemning its sponsors as “immoral Western blackmailers.”

He regretted that the vote was not by secret ballot, as Russia had sought.

Nebenzia reiterated Russia’s claim that the referendum was valid, saying “the populations of these regions do not want to return to Ukraine”.

The four countries that voted against the resolution along with Russia were North Korea, Belarus, Syria and Nicaragua.

China, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Cuba were among the 35 countries that abstained.

The stronger Security Council, whose resolutions are legally binding, has been blocking action against Ukraine because of Russia’s veto, which it used on Sept. 29 to stop condemning Russia’s attempt to annex Ukrainian territory.

By contrast, the UN General Assembly, which has no veto power, has now approved four resolutions criticizing Russia over Ukraine. Its votes reflect world opinion but are not legally binding.

The resolution passed on Wednesday declared that Moscow’s actions violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, were “incompatible” with the principles of the United Nations Charter, “have no effect under international law, and do not constitute any basis for changing the status of these states.” Ukraine”.

It demanded that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from Ukraine’s territory within its internationally recognized borders”.

It supports “the de-escalation of the current situation and the 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.

The resolution received strong support during Wednesday’s debate.

Australian Ambassador Mitch Fifield called Russia’s attempted annexation an “illegal and dangerous escalation” and urged all countries to support the resolution and oppose acts of aggression.

Irish Ambassador Fergal Mythen said voters in “sham” referendums in the four regions “face intimidation from the Russian military and authorities illegally appointed by Russia”.

Cambodian Ambassador Sovann Ke did not say how he would vote, but said “the forcible annexation of an area from a sovereign state is a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law and is unacceptable”, and urged that internationally respected borders be “fully respected” . In the vote, Cambodia supported the resolution.

The South Korean ambassador, Hwang Jung-kook, clearly supports “the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.

He said his country’s “own painful experience” after the 1950-53 Korean War “can prove that any attempt to divide the country in any form or method is only the beginning of long-lasting very serious trouble, not a solution.” .

On the other side of the divide, North Korean ambassador Kim Song supported the “self-determination” of the peoples of the four regions annexed by Russia, a right protected by the UN charter, and said its outcome must be respected.

He accused the United States and Western countries of “barbaric” violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya under the “pretext” of promoting international peace and security, which has never been questioned by the Security Council. .

He said that in the 21st century, US interference in the internal affairs of countries continues.

Syrian Ambassador Bassam al-Sabagh accused the UN General Assembly of being “blatantly manipulated by some Western countries for their own geopolitical interests” and urged countries to oppose efforts to “isolate Russia and apply double standards”.