With a resounding majority, the UN General Assembly has denounced Russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine.
143 nations voted in favor of the resolution, while 35 states, including China and India, abstained. Along with Russia, the vote was rejected by Belarus, North Korea, Syria, and Nicaragua. It was the greatest number of votes against Russia since the invasion, despite being purely symbolic.
President Vladimir Putin signed legal documents last week to annex the eastern Ukrainian provinces of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson to Russia in a formal ceremony held in the Kremlin.
Following what the West referred to as “sham” referendums in the four regions, the agreements were signed with the leaders who had been installed by Moscow in those regions.
The resolution demands Russia’s “immediate reversal” and asks that the world not recognize any of its annexation claims. It applauds and “expresses its strong support” for negotiations aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
All of the nations that voted in favor of Russia have a history of decrying Western governments.
Because of the use of its territory in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February, Belarus is regarded as a satellite state of its neighbor and ally.
Parties that abstained from the vote included 19 African countries in addition to China and India, which have attempted to maintain a neutral stance on the conflict.
Numerous African nations have refrained from taking a side in the conflict, which has been interpreted as evidence of efforts to preserve long-standing trade relations or of historical non-alignment policies.
FAQ
- What is the announcement of the UN General Assembly?
Ans. They denounced Russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine.
- How many nations voted in the favour of resolution?
Ans. 143
- Which Ukraine provinces were in the formal ceremony held in Kremlin?
Ans. Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson
