UN denounces Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, proposes history-making resolution amid war anniversary
The United Nations is denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amid the one-year anniversary of the war while members reportedly voted on a history-making resolution.
According to Reuters, both Ukraine and Russia lobbied countries at the UN for backing ahead of a vote by the General Assembly. The US says the new resolution will “go down in history.”
The General Assembly appeared ready to adopt the resolution that was put forth by Ukraine and its supporters. It stressed “the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in line with the founding UN Charter.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said the Charter was “unambiguous.” He then cited the charter by saying that “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”
The US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the General Assembly that the votes will reveal where the nations of the world stand on the matter of peace in Ukraine.
Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, however, clapped back.
“The West has….brazenly ignored our concerns and continues bringing the military infrastructure of NATO closer and closer to our borders.”
Nebenzia said Moscow “had no other option” but to launch what it has called a “special military operation” to defend Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine and ensure “the safety and security of our country, using military means.”
The UN resolution draft is reportedly non-binding, but carries political weight and mirrors a demand that the General Assembly made to Russia last year. It called for Moscow to withdraw troops and halt violence in Ukraine.
But, Russia described the new resolution as “unbalanced and anti-Russian,” while urging countries to vote no.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, told Reuters that the issue is simple.
“Russia violated the UN Charter by becoming an aggressor. When you are sending weapons to them, you are helping to destroy the UN Charter and everything that the United Nations stand for. It’s very simple.”
The high-level meeting was held in New York City with another meeting scheduled for Friday by the Security Council. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to attend the meeting, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is not scheduled to attend.
