UN General Assembly condemns Russia’s annexation

The UN General Assembly has condemned Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.

143 countries supported the resolution, while 35 – including India and China – abstained. Four countries – including Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua – rejected.

The vote is seen as the World’s strong rejection of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. This is the highest number of votes against Russia since the start of the invasion.

However, critics argue the condemnation would bring no change to Moscow’s actions. Questions are being raised at the UN’s credibility, having lost its reputation, and looking defunct, countries like Russia are easily able to do whatever they like without any real short and long-term repercussions.

The resolution has been welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who is grateful to the countries that supported it. The resolution restricts countries from recognizing the regions that were illegally annexed by Russia, and call for an immediate reversal.

Time will play a key role here as countries, keeping their own interest in consideration, will likely negotiate and use their stances for their own gain.

Russia will be hoping some of the countries that supported the resolution will change their mind in the coming months or years as geo-economics and geo-politics play their parts.

Russia’s Annexation Claims

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed documents that made all four of the occupied regions a part of Russia.

The documents were signed after the Russian military placed its selected ‘leaders’ in the occupied regions to conduct referendums while a large number of the population had already fled the regions at the beginning of the invasion.

The ‘referendums’ were labeled as a “sham” by the World that stood and watched the regions under Russian military control go to Moscow.

President Biden has said that a “clear message” has been sent to Moscow. Although, no one is sure how this resolution – that is bound to isolate Russia internationally – will stop it from mowing down International law.

The General Assembly Resolution was sparked after Russia used its veto powers in the Security Council to block efforts against its invasion.