UN adopts resolution on non-recognition of Russian occupation of the Ukrainian territories

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution “Territorial integrity of Ukraine. Protection of the principles of the UN Charter” on the 12ts of October on the non-recognition of pseudo-referendums in the Russian-occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhya. 

The new UN resolution is a sign of the condemnation of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, Moscow’s expected diplomatic defeat. It also shows that Russia is becoming more and more a rogue state. 

143 countries supported the UN resolution calling Russia to withdraw from Ukraine

143 countries voted for the UN resolution, and 35 abstained. Five countries voted against it – Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, and Nicaragua.

The General Assembly held its emergency extraordinary session to denounce the Russian Federation’s attempted unlawful annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia and demanded that Moscow remove all of its military forces from Ukrainian land right away.

The Assembly demanded that the Russian Federation immediately overturn its decisions from 21 February and 29 September regarding the status of the four aforementioned regions. The text, titled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine: defending the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,” was adopted by a recorded vote of 143 in favor to 5 against, with 35 abstentions.

In conformity with the internationally recognized borders, the resolution asks that Russia “immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.”

Furthermore, it is in favor of “the de-escalation of the current situation and a peaceful resolution of the dispute through political dialogue, negotiation, mediation and other peaceful means.”

After the voting, the 143 states that backed the resolution were thanked by the Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba. The demand, he continued, is clear: Russia must withdraw its forces from all of Ukraine’s land and revoke its decisions regarding the attempted annexation.

US representative: UN resolution reaffirmed the core values of the UN Charter

Following the approval of the resolution, US representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield declared it to be a “monumental day” for the organization.

“143 member states voted in favor of a resolution that denounced Russia’s attempted annexations and reaffirmed the core values of the UN Charter,” the spokesperson claimed. This indicates that Ukraine’s borders are unchanged in the opinion of the rest of the world.

Russia representative called the resolution “politicized”

Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, denounced the resolution as “politicized” and “provocative” and blasted its supporters as “unscrupulous Western blackmailers.”

Prior to the vote, Russia requested a secret ballot, but the UN General Assembly denied this request. Another bitter defeat for Russian diplomats.

Image source: www.aa.com.tr