The General Assembly of the UN approved this Wednesday (10.12.2022) by an overwhelming majority a resolution condemning the “illegal annexation” by Russia of four Ukrainian territories.
The resolution, presented by Albania and Ukraine itself, and co-sponsored by some 70 countries, was approved with 143 votes in favor – including Uruguay – 5 against (Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua and Syria) and 35 abstaining, including China, Bolivia, Algeria, Pakistan, Honduras and Mali.
It also declares that “illegal acts”, referring to the referendums that Russia held in Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhia between September 23 and 27, “have no validity whatsoever” and neither “serve to modify in any way the status of these regions in Ukraine’.
In this sense, it “urges” States, international organizations and UN specialized agencies not to “recognize any modification of the status” of these regions and “demands” Russia to “immediately and unconditionally revoke its decisions” since ” constitute a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
It also asks him “to withdraw immediately, completely and unconditionally all his military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
This is the third defeat that the international community has inflicted on Russia at the UN since invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
In the two previous General Assembly resolutions against the Russian invasion, 141 and 140 countries voted in favour, 5 against (Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria) and 35 and 38 abstained, including China.
