News Desk
NEW YORK: In a major development, Pakistan, India, China and 32 other countries abstained on a crucial UN vote that condemned Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The UN General Assembly resolution called for an immediate withdrawal by Moscow and an end to the fighting. A year since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion, which he has called a “special military operation”, 141 countries voted in favour of a resolution, calling for a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
The General Assembly has called for an end to the war in Ukraine and demanded Russia’s immediate withdrawal from the country, in line with the UN Charter.
The special #UNGA session comes one year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. https://t.co/HTW3SeutBj pic.twitter.com/HGIkLIE0Hq
— United Nations (@UN) February 23, 2023
Meanwhile, thirty-two countries, including Pakistan and India, abstained from voting, whereas seven countries, including Russia, voted against the resolution. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a tweet, called the resolution “a powerful signal of unflagging global support for Ukraine”.
Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy dismised the vote at the UNGA as “useless,” writing on Twitter: “Will it bring peace? No! Will it embolden warmongers? Yes! Thus prolonging Ukrainian tragedy.”
Moscow had termed the resolution “unbalanced and anti-Russian” and urged countries to vote no if it could not be amended. Its ally Belarus failed to change the text with amendments including “prevention of further escalation of the conflict through feeding the parties with lethal weapons.”
This resolution is a powerful signal of unflagging global support for 🇺🇦. A powerful testament to the solidarity of 🌎 community with 🇺🇦 people in the context of the anniversary of RF’s full-scale aggression. A powerful manifestation of global support for 🇺🇦 #PeaceFormula! 2/2 pic.twitter.com/fPBis4v9p1
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 23, 2023
Kyiv’s Western allies have provided it with billions of dollars in weapons since Russia’s invasion an year ago. The US and NATO in the past week accused China of considering supplying arms to Russia and warned Beijing against such a move.
“One year into the Ukraine crisis, brutal facts offer an ample proof that sending weapons will not bring peace,” China’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Dai Bing said ahead of the vote. “Adding fuel to the fire will only exacerbate tensions.”
Another useless UNGA resolution watered down to win more votes by usual Western hand-twisting and blackmail. They cheated even by slyly suspending action for 2 hrs to twist more hands. Will it bring peace? No! Will it embolden warmongers? Yes! Thus prolonging Ukrainian tragedy https://t.co/WjVpxzyThP
— Dmitry Polyanskiy 🇺🇳 (@Dpol_un) February 23, 2023
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi and sought the country’s support for the resolution that called for ending the war in his country.
The two leaders also discussed food security and energy issues. The General Assembly met in New York to consider the resolution calling for “a just lasting peace” in the region. Ukraine opened the debate Wednesday afternoon, followed by Russia and Belarus.
Foreing ministers, envoys, diplomats and ambassadors from over 75 nations addressed the UN General Assembly during the two-day debate. Many speakers urged support for the resolution that sought upholding the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau said the people of Ukraine deserve “our support and solidarity.”
The German Minister for Foreign Affairs said that the West didn’t want war and would rather focus all its money and energy on fighting the climate crisis, fixing schools and strengthening social justice.
She said that the truth is: “If Moscow stops fighting, this conflict ends. If Kyiv stops fighting, Ukraine ends.” Venezuela’s deputy envoy addressed the assembly on behalf of 16 nations that either opposed the resolution or abstained. Bolivia, Belarus, China, Cambodia, Eritrea, Cuba, Iran, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Nicaragua, Laos, St Vincent, North Korea, Venezuela, Syria, and Zimbabwe abstained.
China’s deputy UN envoy Dai Bing told the General Assembly on Thursday that they support Moscow and Kyiv in moving toward each other, starting direct dialogue immediately and giving an opportunity to end the crisis to bring peace. The envoy added that the global community should make joint efforts to facilitate peace dialogue. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the victim and aggressor couldn’t be put on equal terms, and Kyiv cannot be asked not to defend their land.
