United Nations General Assembly To Debate Russian Annexations In Ukraine

A draft of the UN resolution seen by AFP condemns Russia's "attempted illegal annexations" of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson

On Monday, the United Nations General Assembly will open debate on a draft resolution condemning Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions, as Western powers seek to underscore Moscow's international isolation.

The decision to bring the matter to the General Assembly, where each of the 193 members of the United Nations has one vote - and no one has a veto -

After Russia vetoed a Security Council meeting on September 30 to block a similar proposal.

"It is critical," said Olof Skoog, who drafted the text in cooperation with Ukraine and other countries, as the European Union's ambassador to the international organization.

"Unless the United Nations system and the international community through the General Assembly react to this kind of illegal attempt, we will be in a very bad situation," the Swedish diplomat told reporters.

General Assembly fails to take action - vote expected no later than Wednesday -

He added that it would give "carte blanche to other countries to follow suit or recognize what Russia did."

The draft resolution seen by AFP condemns Russia's "illegal annexation attempts" of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions following the "so-called referendums,

She stressed that these actions "have no legitimacy under international law."

It demands all states, international organizations and agencies not to recognize the annexations, and demands the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.

as a response,

Russia sent a letter to all member states attacking the "Western delegations" whose "actions have nothing to do with the protection of international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

"They are only pursuing their geopolitical goals," said the letter, signed by Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia.

He denounced the "tremendous pressure" he said the United States and its allies were applying to other member states.

Nebenzia said that in view of the circumstances, the General Assembly should vote by secret ballot-

It is a very unusual procedure usually reserved for matters such as the election of rotating members of the Security Council.

- "A little despair"

"It does not indicate a high degree of confidence in the outcome if Russia seeks to conceal the vote count," a senior official in US President Joe Biden's administration told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"It suggests a little despair."

Such a measure first requires a vote of the Member States-

And not by secret ballot, according to General Assembly spokeswoman Paulina Kubik.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, as the main defender of the values ​​of the world organization, strongly denounced the annexations.

"It stands against everything the international community wants to defend," said Antonio Guterres.

“It makes a mockery of the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

It's a dangerous escalation. It has no place in the modern world. It should not be accepted."

The US official said these statements "show that it's not really about the West versus Russia."

During the Security Council vote, no other country sided with Russia, despite four delegations

- China, India, Brazil and Gabon abstained from voting.

Some developing countries have complained that the West is devoting all of its attention to Ukraine, and others may be tempted to join in this week.

The vote will provide a clear picture of exactly how isolated Russia is. Given the high stakes,

Proponents of the draft do their best to win over potential abstainers.

"It will be difficult," said a senior European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"For the 2014 annexation of Crimea, there were almost 100 votes in favor. I think we will get more this time," he said.

Total support is estimated at 100 to 140 votes.

In March, two previous General Assembly resolutions condemning the Russian invasion received 141 and 140 votes to five (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, and Eritrea), with 35 and 38 abstentions.

A third vote in April to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council,

It passed but with less consensus.

BY
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