U.N. demands Russia reverse Ukraine annexations, India abstains from vote

TheU.N. General Assembly suggested overwhelmingly Wednesday to condemn Russia’s “ tried 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 snare its neighbour’s home.The vote in the 193- member world body was 143- 5 with 35 abstentions. It was the strongest support from the General Assembly for Ukraine and against Russia of the four judgments it has approved since Russian colors raided Ukraine on February 24.

Ukraine’sU.N. minister, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called the vote “ amazing” and “ a major moment.”U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas- Greenfield said sympathizers were “ holding our breaths” and called it “ a monumental day.” European Union Ambassador Olof Skoog called it “ a great success” that sends “ a resounding communication to Russia that they’re and remain isolated.”

S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that the vote demonstrated the world “ is more united and more determined than ever to hold Russia responsible for its violations. ” It’s “ a clear communication ” that “ Russia can not abolish a autonomous state from the chart ” and it “ can not change borders by force, ” he said.
The Western- patronized resolution was a response to Russia’s blazoned annexation last month of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Moscow acted following Kremlin- orchestrated “ blackballs ” that the Ukrainian government and the West have dismissed as sham votes conducted on engaged land amid warfare and relegation.

Violation ofU.N. Charter

During two days of speeches at the assembly’s proceeded exigency special session on Ukraine speaker after speaker indicted Russia of violating crucial principles of the United Nations Charter — respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of allU.N. member nations.

There was violent prompting by sympathizers of theE.U.- eased resolution ahead of Wednesday’s vote.U.S. envoy Thomas- Greenfield told the assembly before the vote that when the United Nations was established on the ashes of World War II it was erected on anidea — “ that noway again would one country be allowed to take another’s home by force. ”

subsequently, she told journalists the vote means “ that in the eyes of the world and the United Nations, Ukraine’s borders remain the same.”The resolution also sends an tremendously important signal to Moscow and to everyone It doesn’t count if you as a nation are big or small, rich or poor, old or new. If you’re aU.N. member state, your borders are your own and are defended by transnational law,”Ms. Thomas- Greenfield said. “ They can not be redrawn by anyone differently by force.”

Result beyond prospects

A crucial issue for the resolution’s Western backers was how numerous countries would support it, and the result went beyond their most auspicious prospects.The General Assembly suggested 141- 5 with 35 abstentions March 2 to demand an immediate Russian ceasefire, pullout of all its colors and protection for all civilians. On March 24, it suggested 140- 5 with 38 abstentions on a resolution condemning Russia for Ukraine’s philanthropic extremity and prompting an immediate ceasefire and protection for millions of civilians and the homes, seminaries and hospitals critical to their survival.

But the assembly suggested by a far lower periphery April 7 to suspend Russia from theU.N.’s Geneva- grounded Human Rights Council over allegations Russian dogfaces in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the United States and Ukraine have called war crimes. That vote was 93- 24 with 58 abstentions.A 2014 resolution affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and declaring the vote that led to Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula illegal was espoused by a vote of 100- 11 with 58 abstentions.