UN General Assembly demands “immediate withdrawal” of Russian troops from Ukraine

Resolution United Nations General Assembly call for a “cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops this Thursday garnered a total of 141 votes in favor and 7 against, with 32 countries abstaining.

Ultimately, the resolution was supported by 75 countries, including all European UnionUnited States and a few Hispanics (Chile, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Uruguay).

The result was very similar to the vote in March and October last year, also for ending the war in Ukraine, and the countries that voted against this Thursday were, as then, the strongest allies. Russia in the world: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria.

Abstentions included China, India, South Africa, Cuba and most African countries.

During the two days of intervention, many countries repeatedly called for general peace and the opening of negotiations, but the High Representative for European Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, said that these calls were the result of “naivete”. he insisted that “Russia He hasn’t sent the slightest sign that he wants peace.”

The Europeans who promoted the resolution along with Ukraine They warned from the start that abstention would not work because it would be immediately flagged by Russia as a position in their favor, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albarez said on Wednesday.

They call for a “cessation of hostilities.”

The central point of the resolution is the fifth, which asks Russia “immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders”, and then calls for “a cessation of hostilities”.

While it also asks for support for “diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, also stresses the need for accountability (…) and prosecution at the national and international levels for the “most serious crimes under international law”, a phrase that has been criticized by several countries.

The solution came from Ukraine and was immediately sponsored by the European Union and ended up with 75 countries joining. At first it included the so-called “Zelensky peace plan”, but it was withdrawn in favor of more diplomatic or less “anti-Russian” terms, as explained EFE European sources.

This Thursday’s result was very close to the result of October 12 last year in the Assembly’s vote after the referendums on the annexation of four Ukrainian regions: then 143 countries voted against the annexation, 5 against (Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua and Syria) and 38 abstained, the majority of them Africans or Asians.

This result was even greater than the result achieved on March 24, a month after the invasion: the resolution that demanded an “immediate cessation of hostilities” was supported by 140 countries, and 5 voted against (Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria). ) and 38 abstentions.

Appeal to the General Assembly (although its resolutions are symbolic) has become habitual since the beginning of the war due to the ineffectiveness of the Security Council, burdened by the right of veto Russiawhich prevented the adoption of one resolution (which in this case is mandatory).

(As reported by EFE)