In an unusual emergency session, the UN General Assembly intends to pass a resolution condemning Russia’s war of aggression. However, the text is not binding under international law.
The United Nations General Assembly will hold a rare emergency session to consider Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Western states hope that as many of the 193 member countries as possible will condemn Russia’s war of aggression at the meeting and thus make visible the global isolation of the Russian leadership.
In an emergency meeting, the United Nations Security Council had previously spoken out in favor of submitting the draft resolution to the largest UN body. In the vote, 11 of the 15 countries in the Council voted in favour. Russia voted against, but there were no vetoes in this procedural vote. “Russia cannot prevent the world from coming together to condemn its invasion of Ukraine,” said British Ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward.
Because of the large number of speeches, the deliberations of the General Assembly are likely to last several days. This is only the eleventh emergency meeting in over 70 years. The minimum goal is to surpass the votes for a Resolution 2014 that invalidated a Russian referendum in Crimea. At that time, 100 member states voted for the text.
symbolic meaning
The previous text of the resolution, which is available to the German Press Agency, condemns Russia’s aggression “in the strongest possible terms” and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the independence and unity of Ukraine. Russia is being asked to withdraw immediately and to return to the Minsk Agreement.
According to diplomats, the text will be adjusted again for a vote in the general assembly. Unlike in the Security Council, an acceptance by the body is not binding under international law and has more of a symbolic meaning.
The text had already been voted on by the UN Security Council on Friday. As expected, Russia used its veto there. But Western diplomats still rated the vote as a success in the attempt to isolate Moscow internationally, because Moscow’s strategic partner China abstained and there were no other dissenting voices.
UN Ambassador Zhang Jun was also neutral: “China supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and welcomes the earliest possible direct dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,” he said.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
