War in Ukraine: UN General Assembly condemns war with a large majority

War in Ukraine: UN General Assembly condemns war with a large majority

It’s a powerful sign of international cohesion: most of the world’s countries are rallying behind a statement against Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

The UN General Assembly has condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine by a large majority and called on Moscow to end its aggression.

141 member states of the United Nations voted in New York for a corresponding resolution. 35 countries abstained, only 5 rejected the decision.

In front of the United Nations’ largest body with 193 members, the Western allies wanted to make visible the international isolation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also traveled to the United States for the three-day emergency meeting. On Tuesday she called on the international community to gather behind the statement entitled “Aggression against Ukraine”. It was only the eleventh such meeting at the UN in more than 70 years and the first in decades.

benchmark far exceeded

The minimum target was 100 votes – as in a 2014 resolution that declared a Russian referendum in Crimea invalid. Other diplomats set the bar for success at 120 votes. Hardly all members vote in the general assembly, and some of them currently have no voting rights due to outstanding payments. Unlike Security Council resolutions, a resolution adopted by the General Assembly is not binding under international law and has more of a symbolic meaning. However, observers see the Ukraine conflict as a picture of the global mood.

The adopted text says the General Assembly “condemns” Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, as well as Putin’s order to put the nuclear power’s deterrent weapons on special alert. The panel “demands that the Russian Federation immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any member state.” It said it was gravely concerned by reports of attacks on civilian facilities such as homes, schools and hospitals.

Moscow warns of “radical forces”

Russia made it clear that it did not want to change its course despite the vote: “This document will not allow us to end military activities,” said UN Ambassador Vasily Nebensia. Rather, it could encourage “radical forces” and “nationalists” in Kyiv, he claimed. Moscow portrays the democratically elected government in Ukraine as illegitimate and extremist.

Youtube Baerbock

In an emotional speech on Tuesday evening before the General Assembly on the East River in New York, Foreign Minister Baerbock appealed to the countries of the world to condemn Russia’s actions. “Today we all have to choose between peace and aggression, between justice and the will of the strongest, between acting and looking the other way,” said the Green politician, accusing Moscow of “lying” in a sharp tone: “You say you’re acting in self-defense . But the whole world has watched as you spent months building up your troops to prepare for this attack.”

Source: Stern

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