Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya uses binoculars at the UN General Assembly before a vote condemning Russia’s move to illegally annex parts of Ukraine.
Bebeto Matthews/AP
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Bebeto Matthews/AP
Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya uses binoculars at the UN General Assembly before a vote condemning Russia’s move to illegally annex parts of Ukraine.
Bebeto Matthews/AP
The UN General Assembly has categorically rejected Russia’s move to illegally annex four regions of Ukraine, with only four countries voting alongside President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
“The world has had its say,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as he expressed his gratitude – a message he posted in seven languages. He called Russia’s annexation push “worthless”, saying free nations would never recognize it.
There were 35 abstentions, but 143 countries voted in favor of Ukraine’s resolution, which not only cited the need to protect the sovereignty of a country that has now resisted a Russian invasion for more than seven months, but also to defend the UN charter itself.
Some 143 delegations to the UN voted to condemn Russia’s move to illegally annex parts of Ukraine, with Russia joined by only four other countries: Belarus, Nicaragua, North Korea and Syria.
United Nations Information Service
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United Nations Information Service
Some 143 delegations to the UN voted to condemn Russia’s move to illegally annex parts of Ukraine, with Russia joined by only four other countries: Belarus, Nicaragua, North Korea and Syria.
United Nations Information Service
Only Belarus and Nicaragua have joined Syria and North Korea in officially opposing a resolution that calls on countries not to recognize Russia’s claim to Ukrainian regions.
China and Cuba – two longtime Russian allies – abstained in Wednesday’s vote, maintaining positions they have taken on Ukraine-related measures since Russia launched its full-scale attack in February.
Other countries that abstained include India, which depended on Russia for much of its oil needs, and many countries in Africa, where grain from Russia and Ukraine is a staple. .
BREAK
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning #Russiathe “so-called illegal referendums” in the regions of #Ukraineinternationally recognized borders and demands that it reconsider its declaration of annexation.
For: 143
Cons: 5
Abstained: 35 pic.twitter.com/MDDIapqTGv
– UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 12, 2022
The Russian representative had tried to demand a secret vote on the Ukrainian resolution, but the idea was rejected. This established a tally of countries rejecting Russia’s claims that annexation is legitimate, prompted by alleged referendum votes in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia – areas under military occupation.
Russia’s strategy clearly violates the UN’s founding document, according to UN Secretary General António Guterres.
“The Charter is clear” Guterres said when Russia decided to annex the areas. “Any annexation of the territory of a State by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law.”
The resolution was passed by the General Assembly after Russia vetoed the UN Security Council.
The vote came as the war in Ukraine reached new heights and wrought new deadly ravages among civilians. Russian missiles were targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities this week, after the Russian bridge to Crimea was bombed on Saturday.