U.N. General Assembly again overwhelmingly isolates Russia over Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Reuters) – Practically three-quarters of the U.N. Normal Assembly demanded help obtain and civilian safety in Ukraine on Thursday, and criticized Russia for making a “dire” humanitarian problem following Moscow invaded its neighbor a single thirty day period in the past.

It is the next time the 193-member Basic Assembly has overwhelmingly isolated Russia around what Moscow calls a “special navy operation” that is says aims to demolish Ukraine’s army infrastructure.

U.N. Secretary-Typical Antonio Guterres has blasted Russia’s “absurd war.” 1000’s of folks have been killed in Ukraine, millions built refugees, and cities pulverized in the earlier month. browse additional

The resolution adopted on Thursday, which was drafted by Ukraine and allies, acquired 140 votes in favor and 5 votes against – Russia, Syria, North Korean, Eritrea and Belarus – though 38 nations around the world, like China, abstained.

Normal Assembly resolutions are nonbinding, but they have political body weight. There was a round of applause in the hall right after the adoption on Thursday.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described the resolution adopted on Thursday as a “pseudo humanitarian draft” that took a “1-sided perspective of the problem.” He once again accused Western international locations of a campaign of “unprecedented stress” to get votes, a assert that the United States has turned down.

Ukraine and its allies experienced been looking to match or increase on assistance acquired for a March 2 Basic Assembly resolution that deplored Russia’s “aggression” and demanded it withdraw its troops. That gained 141 certainly votes, the same 5 no votes, while 35 states – including China – abstained. read a lot more

‘ASTOUNDING SUCCESS’

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield explained the vote on Thursday as an “astounding results,” telling reporters: “There’s genuinely no difference concerning 141 and 140.”

The resolution adopted on Thursday demands the defense of civilians, medical personnel, assist workers, journalists, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. It also demands an end to the siege of metropolitan areas, in particular Mariupol.

Ukraine and Western allies have accused Moscow of attacking civilians indiscriminately. Moscow denies attacking civilians.

The resolution echoes the March 2 Normal Assembly text by again demanding that Moscow halt preventing and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

South Africa experienced proposed a rival draft resolution that focused on the humanitarian predicament and did not point out Russia. Russia appealed for international locations to aid that text.

The Standard Assembly made the decision not to act on the South African draft just after Ukraine known as a vote less than a rule covering draft resolutions on the exact same challenge.

The Basic Assembly vote came 1 day following a Russian-drafted resolution contacting for support accessibility and civilian protection in Ukraine – and not mentioning Moscow’s role – unsuccessful at the U.N. Security Council, with only Russia and China voting yes and the remaining 13 customers abstaining. read a lot more

The Russian Stability Council draft was quite identical to the textual content put forward in the Standard Assembly by South Africa.

Reporting by Michelle Nichols
Modifying by Jonathan Oatis and Alistair Bell

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