Kyiv: Ukraine Condemned it Russia An urgent meeting of the UN General Assembly on Monday following the latest attacks by its neighbors as an “terrorist state” as Western powers sought to underline Moscow’s isolation.
The UN called the debate to discuss Russia’s declaration of four partially occupied Ukrainian territories, but the debate was overshadowed by attacks on Kyiv and other cities in one of the most punitive attacks on Ukraine in months.
“Russia has once again proved that this is a terrorist state that must be stopped by the strongest possible means,” Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Kislitsya, said in his opening remarks, as his own immediate family came under attack. was.
“Unfortunately, as long as there is an unstable and insane dictatorship around you, you can hardly demand a stable and sensible peace,” he said.
In response, Russia’s Vasily Nebenzya did not directly address the missile strikes, but defended his country’s annexation of Ukrainian territories.
“We are being accused when we are trying to protect our brothers and sisters in eastern Ukraine,” he said.
His spokesman said that ahead of the general assembly session, and at the height of tensions, UN chief Antonio Guterres described Russia’s attacks as an “unacceptable escalation of war”.
us President Joe BidenMeanwhile, it strongly condemned the attacks, saying they “demonstrate the absolute brutality” of Putin’s “illegal war”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently vowed even more “severe” retaliation after an explosion that damaged an important bridge in Moscow. Crimea,
The 193 members of the United Nations have a one-vote – and none use veto power – to bring the annexation matter before the General Assembly, prompting the Security Council to block a similar resolution by Russia on 30 September. The meeting was taken after exercising his veto.
The vote is expected no earlier than Wednesday.
Silvio Gonzato, a representative of the European Union, said: “We will never recognize or recognize the illegal so-called ‘referendum’ that Russia has created under the pretext of this further violation of Ukraine’s independence.”
The resolution condemns Russia’s “attempted illegal occupation” of the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson after a “so-called referendum” and stresses that these actions “have no validity under international law”. ”
It calls on all states, international organizations and agencies not to recognize the contracts, and calls for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
In response to the resolution, Russia wrote to all member states in a letter attacking “Western delegations” whose actions “have nothing to do with the protection of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
Nebenzya said that given the circumstances, the General Assembly should vote by secret ballot – a highly unusual procedure normally reserved for matters such as the election of rotating members of the Security Council.
But Albania submitted a motion against a secret ballot, winning with 107 votes in favour, 13 against and 39 votes. Russia lost a subsequent appeal for the proposal.
He added that Guterres categorically condemned himself as being “against everything to stand up for the international community”.
“It has no place in the modern world. It should not be accepted.”
During the Security Council vote last month, no other country sided with Russia, although four delegations – China, India, Brazil and Gabon – did not participate.
Some developing countries have complained that the West is focusing all of its attention on Ukraine, and others may be tempted to join them this week.
The vote will give a clear picture of how isolated Russia has become. Given the high stakes, supporters of the draft are doing everything possible to win over potential avoiders.
On Monday, Ukrainian diplomat Dimitro Kuleba issued a plea to African countries, saying: “Neutrality will only encourage Russia to continue its aggression and malicious activities around the world, including in Africa.”
The UN called the debate to discuss Russia’s declaration of four partially occupied Ukrainian territories, but the debate was overshadowed by attacks on Kyiv and other cities in one of the most punitive attacks on Ukraine in months.
“Russia has once again proved that this is a terrorist state that must be stopped by the strongest possible means,” Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Kislitsya, said in his opening remarks, as his own immediate family came under attack. was.
“Unfortunately, as long as there is an unstable and insane dictatorship around you, you can hardly demand a stable and sensible peace,” he said.
In response, Russia’s Vasily Nebenzya did not directly address the missile strikes, but defended his country’s annexation of Ukrainian territories.
“We are being accused when we are trying to protect our brothers and sisters in eastern Ukraine,” he said.
His spokesman said that ahead of the general assembly session, and at the height of tensions, UN chief Antonio Guterres described Russia’s attacks as an “unacceptable escalation of war”.
us President Joe BidenMeanwhile, it strongly condemned the attacks, saying they “demonstrate the absolute brutality” of Putin’s “illegal war”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently vowed even more “severe” retaliation after an explosion that damaged an important bridge in Moscow. Crimea,
The 193 members of the United Nations have a one-vote – and none use veto power – to bring the annexation matter before the General Assembly, prompting the Security Council to block a similar resolution by Russia on 30 September. The meeting was taken after exercising his veto.
The vote is expected no earlier than Wednesday.
Silvio Gonzato, a representative of the European Union, said: “We will never recognize or recognize the illegal so-called ‘referendum’ that Russia has created under the pretext of this further violation of Ukraine’s independence.”
The resolution condemns Russia’s “attempted illegal occupation” of the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson after a “so-called referendum” and stresses that these actions “have no validity under international law”. ”
It calls on all states, international organizations and agencies not to recognize the contracts, and calls for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
In response to the resolution, Russia wrote to all member states in a letter attacking “Western delegations” whose actions “have nothing to do with the protection of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
Nebenzya said that given the circumstances, the General Assembly should vote by secret ballot – a highly unusual procedure normally reserved for matters such as the election of rotating members of the Security Council.
But Albania submitted a motion against a secret ballot, winning with 107 votes in favour, 13 against and 39 votes. Russia lost a subsequent appeal for the proposal.
He added that Guterres categorically condemned himself as being “against everything to stand up for the international community”.
“It has no place in the modern world. It should not be accepted.”
During the Security Council vote last month, no other country sided with Russia, although four delegations – China, India, Brazil and Gabon – did not participate.
Some developing countries have complained that the West is focusing all of its attention on Ukraine, and others may be tempted to join them this week.
The vote will give a clear picture of how isolated Russia has become. Given the high stakes, supporters of the draft are doing everything possible to win over potential avoiders.
On Monday, Ukrainian diplomat Dimitro Kuleba issued a plea to African countries, saying: “Neutrality will only encourage Russia to continue its aggression and malicious activities around the world, including in Africa.”