The UN General Assembly on Thursday demanded an “immediate” withdrawal of Russian troops who invaded Ukraine a year ago, voting by an “overwhelming” majority on a resolution also calling for a “just and lasting” peace. .
“We have achieved a victory (…). The world understands which side is the truth”, welcomed the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration Andriï Yermak.
And it is “much more than the West”, underlined the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kouleba.
To applause, the non-binding resolution garnered the votes of 141 of the 193 UN member states, 7 voted against (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, Mali, Nicaragua, Eritrea) and 32 abstained, including China and India. Similar support in October, when 143 countries condemned Russia’s annexation of several Ukrainian territories, with five voting against.
“It is an overwhelming majority on the part of the international community which confirms its strong support for Ukraine, victim of Russian aggression”, rejoiced the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan hailed a “powerful call” for peace.
On Wednesday and Thursday, representatives from dozens of countries marched to the UN rostrum in support of Ukraine. And “we will support it as long as it takes”, insisted on Twitter the head of British diplomacy James Cleverly, who will participate Friday in a UN Security Council at ministerial level to mark the anniversary of the invasion.
General Assembly resolution reaffirms ‘commitment’ to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and ‘demands’ that Russia ‘immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from Ukrainian territory within the borders internationally recognized rights of the country”, a reference to the territories annexed by Russia.
It also calls for a “cessation of hostilities” and “stresses the need to achieve, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter”.
For a year, while Russia has been using its right of veto to prevent any action in the Security Council on Ukraine, the General Assembly has taken over on this issue.
And even if its resolutions are non-binding, “it’s not just a piece of paper”, defended Josep Borrell.
“In a year, we must not meet to mark the second anniversary of this absurd war of aggression,” said Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, hoping instead for a “summit for peace”. in 2024.
But “Russia shows no desire for peace (…). She knows peace only that of silence, death and ruins”, warned her French counterpart Catherine Colonna.
A “path to peace” which is nevertheless “very clear”: “Russia must stop bombing”, insisted the head of German diplomacy Annalena Baerbock. “It’s not peace when an abuser asks his victim to give up.”
On Wednesday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres castigated him “the affront to our collective conscience” represented by the invasion of Ukraine, warning against the risks of “escalation” and nuclear risks.
But President Vladimir Putin vowed this week to “methodically” continue his offensive in Ukraine, in a speech with anti-Western rhetoric reminiscent of the Cold War.
Its ambassador to the UN Vassili Nebenzia also attacked Westerners, accusing them of being “ready to plunge the whole world into the abyss of war” to “inflict a defeat” on Moscow.
In this context, China, which again abstained, promised to make public a “political solution” to the conflict soon this week.
“Wars have no winner,” Chinese Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dai Bing said. “A year later (…), the raw facts prove that sending weapons will not bring peace”, he added, calling on kyiv and Moscow “to resume dialogue”.
The three previous resolutions related to Russian aggression passed by the General Assembly over the past year had received between 140 and 143 votes in favour, with a handful of countries systematically voting against (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea) and less than 40 abstaining.
A slightly different fourth in April, which suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council, was less consensual (93 votes for, 24 against, 58 abstentions).
02/24/2023 04:14:47 – United Nations (United States) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
