Support For Ukraine Remains Overwhelming At UN As Resolution Calls For Russia To Withdraw Forces

The United Nations voted overwhelmingly to demand Russia immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked invasion.

The resolution on February 23 was backed by 141 of the 193 members of the UN General Assembly, indicating that support for Ukraine in the world body remains strong.

Russia and six other countries — Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, and Syria — voted against the resolution, and 32, including China, India, Iran, and South Africa, abstained.

“Russia is just as isolated with its war as it was a year ago,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. “The world wants peace. The states of this world have made that clear together today at the United Nations.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also expressed satisfaction, saying Russia had failed to “undermine the international order” and that the coalition in support of Ukraine remained broad and strong.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said the war being waged by Russia “is everybody’s business because it threatens the existence of a state, because it represents a domineering and imperialist plan, and because it denies the existence of borders.”

The resolution reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity,” rejecting any Russian claims to the parts of the country it occupies.

It also demanded that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,” and called “for a cessation of hostilities.”

It goes on to call for a full exchange of prisoners of war and stresses the need for those responsible for the most serious war crimes to be held accountable.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia called Ukraine “neo-Nazi” during the debate and accused the West of sacrificing the country and the developing world in their desire to beat Russia.

“They are ready to plunge the entire world into the abyss of war” to maintain their own “hegemony,” Nebenzia said.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell rejected the statement, telling the General Assembly, “I want to stress…this war is not a ‘European issue,’ nor is it about ‘the West versus Russia.'”

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