UNO: On the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion, the UN General Assembly adopted a non-binding resolution on Thursday that demands that Russia end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces. This sends a clear message that Moscow's aggression must stop.
Since Russia sent troops and tanks across the border into its smaller neighbor on February 24, 2022, the five previous resolutions adopted by the 193 member international body have received slightly lower approval ratings 141-7 with 32 abstentions.
The Security Council, which is tasked with maintaining global peace and security, is paralyzed by Russia's veto power, making the General Assembly the most crucial UN body when it comes to Ukraine. Contrary to Security Council resolutions, its decisions are advisory only and act as a gauge of global sentiment.
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During the two days of debate, foreign ministers and diplomats from more than 75 nations addressed the assembly, with many pleading for support for the resolution that upholds Ukraine's territorial integrity, a fundamental tenet of the UN Charter that all nations must ascribe to when they join the international body.
Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict, which has also left entire cities in ruins, and its effects can be seen all over the world in the rising price of food and fuel as well as inflation.
Zbigniew Rau, the foreign minister of Poland, stated in his own appeal that Ukrainians "deserve not only our compassion, but also our support and solidarity."
Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock questioned why Western countries would arm Ukraine, saying that they were "pouring fuel on the fire."
She told the crowd, "The West didn't want or choose the war and would rather focus all its energy and resources on improving schools, addressing the climate crisis, or advancing social justice."
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"However, the reality is that if Russia stops fighting, the war is over. Ukraine will cease to exist if the fighting stops. or the resolution that upholds Ukraine's territorial integrity, which is a fundamental tenet of the UN Charter that every nation must ratify in order to join the international body.
On behalf of 16 nations, including Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, St. Vincent, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, the deputy ambassador of Venezuela made a statement to the Security Council.
Deputy Ambassador Joaqun Pérez Ayestarán stated on Wednesday that all nations, without exception, "must strictly comply with the United Nations Charter" while other nations concentrated on Russia's actions.
He claimed that the nations in his group supported "a spirit of compromise" and opposed "divisive action" in the General Assembly.
Thursday, Dai Bing, China's deputy UN ambassador, addressed the group and said: "We support Russia and Ukraine in moving towards each other, resuming direct dialogue as soon as possible, bringing their legitimate concerns into the negotiation, setting out workable options, and giving a chance to an early end to the crisis and the rebuilding of peace."
"The international community should work together to support peace negotiations." However, Josep Borrell, the head of foreign policy for the European Union, told reporters that Ukraine cannot be told not to defend itself because the aggressor and the victim cannot be placed on equal footing.
The Russian government, he lamented, "has not sent any positive signal of any minimum willingness to work for a peace."
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Everyone who visited the Kremlin agreed that President Vladimir Putin would continue his ostensibly special military operation "until he gets the military objective that he has been unable to achieve." He said, "That's reality."