UN adopts resolution urging Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Feb 23:55
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Western-backed Ukraine receives substantial support in a non-binding vote in which 141 of the 193 UN members voted in favor, seven against, and 32 abstained, including China and India.

Monitors showing results of a United Nations General Assembly vote on February 23, 2023 (AP)

The United Nations overwhelmingly voted Thursday to demand that Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine "immediately" and "unconditionally", marking the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine war with a call for a "just and enduring" peace.

The West's backed Ukraine received substantial support in a non-binding vote in which 141 of the 193 UN members voted in favor, seven against, and 32 abstained, including China and India.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the war, support for Kiev remained mostly unchanged from last October, when 143 countries voted to condemn Russia's special military operation.

The resolution reiterated support for Ukraine's "sovereignty and territorial integrity."

It also demanded "that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," and called "for a cessation of hostilities."

On its part, Russia strongly dismissed the resolution, with its UN representative Vasily Nebenzya calling Ukraine "neo-Nazi" and accusing the West of sacrificing the country and the developing world in their desire to beat Russia.

"They are ready to plunge the entire world into the abyss of war" to maintain their own "hegemony", Nebenzya said.

Before the vote, China's deputy envoy to the United Nations, Dai Bing, took a neutral stance, urging both sides to stop fighting and join in peace talks.

"We support Russia and Ukraine moving towards each other, resuming direct dialogue as soon as possible, bringing their legitimate concerns into the negotiation, setting out feasible options, putting an early end to the crisis, and giving peace a chance," he said.

Any settlement, he stressed, should give "due regard to ... the reasonable security concerns of all countries, thereby properly addressing their legitimate security aspirations."