The head of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine at the General Assembly meeting almost a year later, calling it an insult to the collective conscience of the world.
The meeting was debating a motion backed by Ukraine and its allies calling for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Russia.
Ukraine hopes that countries will show solidarity by supporting the movement.
The Kremlin has accused the West of wanting to defeat Russia at any cost.
The Kremlin’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, said that the United States and its allies are ready to plunge the whole world into war.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent 200,000 troops into Ukraine in the largest European offensive since the end of World War II.
The UN estimates that at least 7,199 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in the devastating war, while Russia and Ukraine have each lost at least 100,000 soldiers killed or wounded, according to the US military. What is injured?
More than 13 million people were refugees abroad or displaced within Ukraine.
Mr Putin’s claim that his operation was needed to “demilitarize and demobilize” Ukraine, a country with historic ties to Russia, was dismissed by Ukraine and its allies as a plot to launch an unprovoked attack. Rejected.
“This attack is an affront to our collective conscience,” Mr Guterres told the General Assembly. “This is a violation of the UN Charter and international law.”
He said the potential consequences of an “escalating conflict” were a “clear and present threat”.
Mr Guterres said the war was “fueling regional instability and fueling global tension and division, while diverting attention and resources from other crises and suppressing global issues”.
He said there were “clear threats to use nuclear weapons”.
He said that now is the time to step back from the brink.
“Applause will only deepen the crisis, while further eroding our common principles outlined in the Charter. War is not the solution. War is the problem. The people of Ukraine are suffering greatly. Ukrainians, Russians and people beyond need peace.”
Sixty countries have sponsored the resolution, which “stresses the need to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
The UN is likely to adopt the resolution, which is not legally binding but carries political weight. Voting will take place later on Thursday, the first anniversary of the attack.
Over the past year, the General Assembly has voted on similar resolutions opposing the Russian invasion. In October, 143 member states voted to condemn Moscow’s illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine. Russia, Belarus, Syria and North Korea opposed the motion, while India and China were among the 35 states that did not protest.
