The United Nations approves a resolution calling on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine

The United Nations General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution calling on Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and demand the withdrawal of its forces.

The move sends a powerful message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion that Moscow’s aggression must end.

The vote of 141 to 7 with 32 abstentions was just short of the highest vote tally of the previous five resolutions approved by the 193-member world body since Russia sent troops and tanks across the border into its smaller neighbor on February 24, 2022.

General Assembly resolutions may not be binding but they are a powerful barometer of international opinion.

The United Nations Security Council is the global body responsible for maintaining peace and security, but it is paralyzed by the Russian veto because the country is a permanent member.

Foreign ministers and diplomats from more than 75 countries addressed the General Assembly during the two days of debate, many of them urging support for the resolution that upholds Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

This is the basic principle in the United Nations Charter that all countries must abide by when they join the global organization.

In his appeal to the assembly, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said that Ukrainians deserve “not only our sympathy but also our support and solidarity”.

Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalina Berbock, asked countries that claim “that by arming Ukraine, we are adding fuel to the fire” why Western countries are doing this.

“The West did not want or choose war and would rather focus all its energy and money on fixing schools, fighting the climate crisis or promoting social justice,” she told the assembly. But the truth is: if Russia stops fighting, this war will end. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine will be finished.

Opposition and abstention

Venezuela’s deputy ambassador addressed the council on behalf of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of the five previous resolutions on Ukraine: Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, the North. Korea, Saint Vincent, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

While other countries focused on Russia’s actions, Deputy Ambassador Joaquín Perez Astaran said Wednesday that all countries without exception “must strictly comply with the UN Charter.”

He said that the states in his group oppose what he called divisive work in the General Assembly, and oppose the “spirit of compromise.”

China’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dai Bing told the assembly on Thursday: “We support Russia and Ukraine in moving towards each other, resuming direct dialogue as soon as possible, bringing their legitimate concerns into negotiations, identifying possible options, giving an opportunity for an early end to the crisis and rebuilding.” peace “.

The international community should make joint efforts to facilitate peace talks.

But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the aggressor and the victim cannot be treated on equal terms, and Ukraine cannot be required not to defend itself.