Bright Times News: The 193-member U.N. General Assembly voted on Monday to reject Russia’s proposal for a secret vote this week on whether to condemn Moscow’s attempt to annex four partially occupied regions of Ukraine.
With 107 votes in favour, the General Assembly decided to vote on a draught resolution condemning Russia’s “illegal so-called referenda” and the “attempted illegal annexation” publicly rather than secretly. Diplomats predict that the vote on the resolution will happen on Wednesday.
On Monday, just 13 nations abstained, 39 remained mute, and the rest did not vote on the resolution draught in public. Russia has insisted that a secret ballot was necessary due to Western influence because “it may be very difficult if positions are transmitted publicly.”
Moscow has attempted to annex the four partially occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia after holding what it portrayed to as referendums. Ukraine and its allies have slammed the voting as being illegal and forced.
Also Read Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav dies, three days of state mourning in UP
The draught resolution, which will be put to a vote later this week, affirms Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty while pleading with other countries to refuse to recognize Russia’s action.
The actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin were called “totally intolerable” earlier on Monday by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“It is not appropriate to abstain, use reassuring language, or make ambiguous statements while claiming neutrality at this time. The fundamental tenets of the U.N. Charter are in jeopardy “In a statement, Blinken stated.
The 15-member Security Council rejected a similar proposal last month due to Russia’s veto. After nearly three-quarters of the General Assembly censured Moscow and demanded that it withdraw its soldiers within a week of its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, it has been attempting to lessen its international isolation.
The UN’s reactions reflect the events that occurred in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. At the Security Council, Russia vetoed a draught resolution that rejected a vote on the status of Crimea and urged nations not to recognize it.
Following that, the General Assembly passed a resolution invalidating the referendum with 100 votes in favor, 11 votes against, and 58 official abstentions. Twenty-one countries chose not to participate.
Also Read Delhi Excise Policy: ED raids 35 places in Delhi, Punjab, and Hyderabad in Liquor Policy case
