UNITED NATIONS (Washington Insider Magazine) – The United Nations General Assembly voted in an emergency meeting on Wednesday to urge an immediate end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the evacuation of all Russian forces, with prolonged applause erupting following a massive display of opposition to the invasion from the 193 member nations.
The resolution on “Aggression Against Ukraine” had 141 votes in favor and 35 votes against, and 35 abstentions. According to ABC NEWS, Russia attacked Ukraine’s 2nd-largest city and surrounded two vital ports, while a big convoy of Russian armed forces vehicles was stationed outside Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.
Only North Korea, Belarus, Eritrea, and Syria backed Russia in voting against the resolution, a striking reminder of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s global isolation for attacking his nation’s smaller neighbor — and one that the resolution’s backers intended to underline.
India and China abstained, as predicted, but there were some shocks from traditional Russian partners Nicaragua and Cuba. The United Arab Emirates voted “yes” after abstaining on a similar Security Council vote on Friday.
On Tuesday, Cuban Diplomat Pedro Luis Cuesta went out in support of Russia, blaming the situation on the United States’ resolve to maintain extending NATO near Russia’s borders and the sale of advanced weaponry to Ukraine, despite Russia’s worries about its own security.
Resolutions of the General Assembly, unlike those of the Security Council, are not legally obligatory, but they do possess significance in expressing world opinion. A resolution must be approved by two-thirds of the nations voting in the extraordinary emergency meeting, and abstentions do not count.
The proposal, which strongly condemns Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine, calls for an immediate end to Russia’s use of violence as well as the prompt, total, and unconditional evacuation of all Russian soldiers.
According to the resolution, Russia’s military actions in Ukraine are of a magnitude that the global community hasn’t seen in Europe in years, and immediate action is required to protect this generation from the horrors of war. It calls for a quick cease-fire and underlines the assembly’s dedication to Ukraine’s unity, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity under internationally recognized boundaries.
The resolution also criticizes the Russian Federation’s plan to boost the availability of its nuclear forces, which has alarmed several United Nations members.