March 02, (THEWILL) – The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to demand that Russia stop its offensive in Ukraine and called for the immediate withdrawal of its forces, in a global expression of outrage that highlighted Russia’s increasing isolation.
The General Assembly voted 141 in favour and 5 (including Russia, Syria and Belarus) opposed, with 35 nations (including China) abstaining on the draft resolution “Aggression against Ukraine” which has been co-sponsored by 94 countries.
The resolution, which was co-sponsored by 94 countries, said the UN “deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.” It demanded that “the Russian Federation immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine” and “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces.”
The resolution is not legally binding, but is an expression of the views of the UN membership, aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow and its ally, Belarus.
It ended a rare emergency session called by the U.N Security Council and as Ukrainian forces battled on in the port of Kherson in the face of air strikes and a devastating bombardment that forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee.
It is the first time in 40 years, the security council has referred a crisis to the assembly and only the 11th time an emergency session of the UN general assembly has been called since 1950.
It was summoned under a “uniting for peace” resolution, in which global threats are referred to the body “if the security council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility to act as required to maintain international peace and security.”
The text of the resolution “deplores” Russia’s “aggression against Ukraine.”
“We believe this is a simple vote. Vote yes if you believe you in member states, including your own, have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vote yes if you believe Russia should be held to account for his actions. Vote yes if you believe in upholding the U.N Charter and everything this institution stands for”, said U.S Ambassador to the U.N, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during remarks on Wednesday.
On Friday, Russia was the sole vote against a similar resolution in the security council, but because Russia is one of the five powers with a veto, the resolution was not upheld, so Ukraine’s allies referred the matter to the general assembly.
Russia has destroyed critical infrastructure, including drinking water and gas for millions of people and appeared to be preparing to increase the brutality of its campaign against Ukraine, U.S Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said in a speech to the General Assembly.
After nearly a week, Russia has yet to achieve its aim of overthrowing Ukraine’s government, but has faced an unprecedented backlash from the West, whose sanctions have knocked Russia’s financial system, while giant multinational countries have pulled investments out of Russia.
Washington has imposed several rounds of sanctions, including against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the central bank, since Russia’s forces invaded Ukraine in the biggest assault on a European state since World War II. Moscow calls the assault a “special operation.”
Russia’s U.N Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, denied that Moscow was targeting civilians and warned that the adoption of the resolution might spur further escalation.
