On March 2, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against the sovereign nation of Ukraine and to demand that “the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
The vote took place at a rare emergency special session of the General Assembly, as Russian tanks rolled into Ukrainian cities and Russian missiles crushed civilian infrastructure and killed hundreds of innocent people. 141 nations across the world voted in favor of the UN resolution. 5 authoritarian states, -- Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, and Eritrea -- voted against it; 35, including Cuba, the PRC, India, Venezuela and Iran, abstained.
“As this vote revealed,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, “the overwhelming majority of the international community stands in strong support of the core principles of the United Nations and upholding the UN Charter – and stands against Russia’s reckless attempts to change the borders of another sovereign country by force, to replace its will for the will of the Ukrainian people.”
President Joe Biden said the vote by the UN General Assembly shows the majority of nations recognize Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not only attacking Ukraine, he is attacking the very foundations of global peace and security. . .If we do not stand up to Putin’s Russia,” President Biden declared, “it will only inflict further chaos and aggression on the world. Russia stood isolated with the support of only four brutal, authoritarian states.”
Following the vote UN General-Secretary Antonio Guterres told reporters, “The message of the General Assembly is loud and clear: End hostilities in Ukraine now. . . . The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine must be respected in line with the UN Charter.”
U.S. Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the vote, “Let us continue to come together to support the Ukrainian people. And let us demonstrate the true power and true purpose of the United Nations for all.”
President Biden pointed out that the United Nations “was founded ‘to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.’ . . . Together,” he declared, “we must – and we will - hold Russia accountable for its actions. We will demonstrate that freedom always triumphs over tyranny.”
UN General Assembly Condemns Russia
On March 2, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against the sovereign nation of Ukraine.
