The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on Wednesday demanding that Russia immediately end its military operations in Ukraine.
Some 141 Members voted for the Resolution and five against (Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, Syria and North Korea). There were 35 abstentions among the 193 Members. Sri Lanka abstained from voting for the Resolution, along with India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and several other countries.
The resolution demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.” It was sponsored by more than 90 countries and needed a two-thirds majority in the Assembly to pass.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated he was duty bound to stand by the Resolution and be guided by its call. “The message of the General Assembly is loud and clear: End hostilities in Ukraine now. Silence the guns now. Open the door to dialogue and diplomacy now.”
US President Joe Biden has said the result shows the “extent of global outrage” at the attack, and added that it showcases “unprecedented global unity”. In a passionate speech following the vote, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya told the General Assembly that it would be a “defining moment in our generation”. (UN News)
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