Thailand votes for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine at UN Assembly

Thailand was one of 141 countries at the United Nations (UN)’s General Assembly yesterday that voted for Russia to end the war in Ukraine and withdraw troops immediately.

Seven countries voted against and 32 countries abstained.

Thailand’s vote is significant since Thailand refused to condemn Russia’s annexation of Ukraine at a UN Assembly in October 2022, abstaining from the vote.

Today marks exactly one year since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he calls a “special military operation,” ordering Russian troops to invade Ukraine.

In the past year, the bloody war has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians and fighters and devastated towns and cities. Millions fled from both sides.

In May last year, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that Thailand wouldn’t “take sides” in the Russia – Ukraine conflict.

In September, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov voiced that he appreciated Thailand’s neutrality on the war.

The UN overwhelmingly voted for an immediate end to the war yesterday, sparking rounds of applause when the result was announced.

The Guardian commented on Thailand’s change of heart…

“Thailand said it did not want to become involved in a morality play, adding that billions of bystanders were bearing the brunt of the war.”

Ukraine actually lost support since the last vote in October, when 143 countries condemned Russia’s annexation of four regions of Ukraine. In that vote, 143 countries voted in favour, five were against and 35 abstained.

Among the 32 nations who abstained from the vote yesterday include China, India, Iran, Laos and Vietnam.

Deputy envoy to the UN for China – who abstained from the vote – said the west was exacerbating the war by sending arms to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said…

“By voting in favour of today’s UN general assembly resolution 141 UN member states made it clear that Russia must end its illegal aggression. Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be restored. One year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion global support for Ukraine remains strong.”

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that demands #Russia leave #Ukraine.

In favour: 141

Against: 7

Abstentions: 32 pic.twitter.com/WnEoRp94kx

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) February 23, 2023