United Nations (EFE).- The UN General Assembly resolution calling for the “cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops has garnered a total of 141 votes in favor and seven against, while 32 countries abstained.
The resolution was eventually co-sponsored by 75 countries, including all of the European Union, the United States, and several Latin American countries (Chile, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay).
The result has been very similar to the votes of last March and last October, also to end the war in Ukraine.
And the countries that voted against were – as then – Russia’s staunchest allies in the world: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria.
Abstainers included China, India, South Africa, Cuba and a majority of African countries.
The UN resolution
During the two days of interventions, many countries have launched repeated calls for peace in a generic way and the opening of negotiations, but the High Representative of European foreign policy, Josep Borrell, said that these calls were the result of “naivety”, because he insisted that “Russia has not sent the slightest sign that it wants peace.”
The Europeans, who promoted the resolution along with Ukraine from the beginning, had warned that abstention would not work because it would be immediately noted by Russia as a position in their favor, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said on Wednesday.
The central point of the resolution is the fifth, which calls on Russia for “an immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all its military forces from Ukrainian territory within its internationally recognized borders”, and then calls for a “cessation of hostilities”.
Resorting to the General Assembly (although its resolutions are symbolic) has become common since the beginning of the war due to the ineffectiveness of the Security Council, weighed down by Russia’s right to veto, which has prevented a single resolution from being approved. (Which in your case are mandatory).
Ukraine welcomes “broad support”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba applauds the international community’s “broad support” for peace in Ukraine and stresses that it goes beyond the West, directly mentioning China and India, two countries that abstained.
“Many countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia voted in favor today. (…) It is another proof that it is not only the West that supports Ukraine, the support is much broader and will only continue to consolidate and solidify”, said the diplomat, despite the fact that today’s result is almost similar to that of the registered votes. last March and October.
Asked about the potential transfer of arms from China to Russia that US intelligence is considering divulging, according to press reports, Kuleba said he had no information and considered it a “big mistake” for any country to arm Moscow, but seemed to point to that Beijing is closer to Ukraine.
“For now, China has positioned itself in defense of the UN charter and especially the principle of territorial integrity,” he said, after indicating that yesterday he had held a meeting with a senior Chinese diplomat and the latter pointed out territorial integrity as a “common” problem.
Also, when asked about India’s presidency at the G20, he considered that it would be an “opportunity” to show leadership to “end the war according to the demands made by the resolution.”
“It is in the hands of India to manage it, but it is obvious that the path of neutrality and balance between Ukraine and Russia is not the path to peace,” he added.
Reactions to the outcome of the UN resolution
Immediately afterwards, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, left accompanied by the delegation of European ministers who have promoted the UN resolution, and in a brief comment before leaving, he considered it supported by an “overwhelming majority” of the community international.
“It confirms the high level of support that Ukraine has as a victim of Russian aggression. Russia has tried all week to distract and disrupt the work of the UN and has once again failed. We clearly see that the votes for Russia with a small handful”.
After Borrell, the US ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, took the floor, who was satisfied with the result of the vote and said that it translates into a clear message to Russia: “Send your troops home and end this war.”
The diplomat said that her country continues to believe in the power of dialogue and that it works for a lasting peace, but ended her words with a commitment: “Here we continue together with Ukraine, we will continue together as long as necessary.”
Tomorrow, Friday, the diplomatic scene will move to the Security Council, in a new session dedicated to Ukraine. The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will speak on behalf of the United States, who will be accompanied by a large representation of European foreign ministers, including the Spanish José Manuel Albares.
