..In Favour Of Resolution: 141
Against: 5
Abstained: 35
The United Nations on Wednesday voted in support of a resolution asking Russia to “immediately withdraw” its troops from Ukraine to stop the bloody hostilities between the two neighbours.
The vote comes after more than two days of extraordinary debate which saw the Ukrainian ambassador accuse Russia of genocide.
During the emergency session, member-states voted overwhelmingly for a sanction to be placed on Russia for launching what it termed as “unprovoked attack” on Ukraine last week.
A total of 141 of the 193 member states voted in support of the resolution, 35 declined voting, while five voted against it, even though the resolution is non-binding on Russia, The New Diplomat understands. But it has further rallied the world against Russia following its invasion of its historic neighbour.
Several members of the UN during the voting session demanded that “the Russian Federation immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine” and “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces”.
The only countries that voted in support of Russia are Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria.
China, Cuba, Venezuela, India are on the list of countries that abstained from voting during the session.
Among the countries that voted against Russia are Nigeria, United States, Canada, France, Netherlands, Thailand, Spain, among others.
Commenting on the results of the voting, the UN Director at the International Crisis Group, Richard Gowan noted that it is a big win for Ukraine as it got enough votes to put pressure on Russia to withdraw its troops.
“It isn’t going to stop Russian forces in their stride, but it’s a pretty enormous diplomatic win for the Ukrainians and the US, and everyone who has got behind them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russia’s ally Belarus offered a staunch defense of the invasion.
Ambassador Valentin Rybakov blasted sanctions imposed by the West on Russia as “the worst example of economic and financial terrorism.”
And he followed other Russian allies such as Syria in condemning the “double standards” of Western nations who have invaded countries including Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan in recent decades.
