Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/UNITED NATIONS: Ahead of a United Nations (UN) General Assembly vote on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky called Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi Wednesday and sought the country’s support for a draft resolution that calls for ending the war in his country.
According to reports published in local media on Thursday, the two leaders also discussed food security and energy issues. The General Assembly met in New York, USA to consider a resolution calling for “a just lasting peace” in the region. Ukraine opened the debate Wednesday afternoon, followed by Russia and Belarus.
The United States, Ukraine and other major world powers are hoping for greater support for the resolution from other United Nations members. Pakistan, as India, has so far abstained from voting on the UN resolutions on Ukraine.
UN draft resolution
The draft resolution which was sponsored by some 60 countries, “underscores the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
It reaffirms the United Nation’s “commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine” and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The text unlike a SC resolution would not be binding. It demands Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine”.
“President Zelensky, referring to his ten-point peace formula, sought Pakistan’s support on the draft resolution being tabled in the United Nations General Assembly for ending the Ukraine-Russia conflict,” said a statement issued by President Dr. Arif Alvi’s office.
“Had a phone call with Pakistan’s President Alvi. We noted the importance of the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty and respect for the UN charter,” said President Zelensky in a tweet after the call. “Paid special attention to Ukraine’s grain initiative. Ukraine is ready to continue being a guarantor of world food security,” he wrote.
The statement issued by President of Pakistan’s office said the two leaders discussed the Pakistan-Ukraine economic and political ties, including the food security and energy issues facing the developing world in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Both sides emphasised the need for enhancing economic and trade relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries,” it added.
President Alvi informed the Ukrainian president that Pakistan remains deeply concerned at the conflict and supports a peaceful solution in accordance with the United Nations Charter. The Pakistani government, he added, was still “evaluating the contents of the draft resolution”.
President Zelensky also extended an invitation to his Pakistani counterpart to visit Ukraine. According to a statement by Ukrainian side, Zelensky’s call followed Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in Munich last week when Kyiv formally asked Pakistan to back its peace formula.
