The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Russia’s “illegal annexation” of four Ukrainian territories, inflicting a new diplomatic defeat on Moscow that vetoed a similar resolution in the Security Council late last month. .

Only five countries voted against condemning the annexation of territories: Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua and Syria – Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/ND

The resolution, presented by Albania and Ukraine and supported by some 70 countries, was approved by 143 votes to five (Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua and Syria) with 35 abstentions, including China, Bolivia, Algeria, Pakistan. , Honduras and Mali.

The resolution entitled “Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: Respect for the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations” states that “illegal actions (referring to the referendums held by Russia in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporozhye on September 23, 2007) are invalid and in no way change the status of these regions in Ukraine”.

In this sense, the text calls on states, international organizations and UN specialized agencies “not to recognize any changes in the status” of these regions and demands that Russia “immediately and unconditionally cancel its decisions” because they “constitute a violation of the integrity of the country”, the territorial and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

In addition, the resolution calls on Russia to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its armed 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 that country invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Among other issues they see as vital, the resolution’s main backer, the European Union, and the United States have scored another diplomatic victory over Moscow, which remains isolated in its war.