UNGA adopted 3 resolutions on Ukraine as debate intensifies, world marks 3 yrs full-scale war

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – World body on Monday debated the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine as it marked the 3 years of Russia full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

UN reported that thousands of civilians have been killed and injured, the economy shattered and energy infrastructure destroyed.

UNGA and the Security Council debated how peace and security can be restored in eastern Europe, three resolutions were passed which revealed new policies and alliances that signal a major shift in the pattern of diplomacy towards the war in New York.

 UN Security Council was unable keep the responsibility to maintain international peace and security.

UNGA can consider the matter immediately in an emergency special session and recommend to its members collective measures to maintain or restore international peace and security as stipulated in the Assembly’s “Uniting for peace” resolution of 3 November 1950.

Over 12 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian aid, UN agencies reported.

General Assembly called the 11th emergency special session on Monday.

Ambassadors from Ukraine, United States, Russia and France tabled their respective draft resolutions and amendments.

Vice-President of the General Assembly, Francisco José Da Cruz, said at a time when the UN is under intense scrutiny, the Security Council is deadlocked, the General Assembly has demonstrated its intention to act on the Russian aggression against Ukraine violates the UN Charter.

He said that dialogue and diplomacy should be the way towards a just a sustainable peace in line with international law and Assembly resolutions alongside the wishes of the people of Ukraine.

Francisco José Da Cruz said actions, not words, must do this.

“Peace is within our reach,” he added.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Mariana Betsa, presented draft resolution to end the ongoing war

In Ukraine and introduced a draft resolution supported by the EU.

“This is a historic moment,” she said. “The way we answer to the Russian aggression today…will define…the future of Ukraine, Europe and our common future.”

She said that the UN is under attack because Russia attacked every foundation of the UN Charter. Moscow wants to base the world on force, not international order, she added.

Ms. Betsa said that Russia believed Ukraine would fall in three days, however, the myth of Russia’s military abilities have been shattered. Solidarity has demonstrated that unity and the UN Charter trump lawlessness.

She thanked those Member States who provided assistance and support during the war.

US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea introduced a draft titled Path to Peace “Mourns the loss of life throughout the Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict.”

It reiterated that the principal purpose of the UN, as expressed in the Charter, is to maintain international peace and security and to peacefully settle disputes

The resolution implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russia

US resolution aims to end war and forge lasting peace 

Ms. Dorothy Shea noted that multiple General Assembly resolutions have demanded that Russia withdraw its forces from Ukraine, and these have failed to stop the war.

She said it is time for Member States to return to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, mainly to maintain international peace and security, including through the peaceful settlement of disputes. 

“As we gather today on this third anniversary, what we need is a resolution marking the commitment from all UN Member States to bring a durable end to the war,” she said, adding that the US draft resolution makes this very point.

She said it implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.

“This is what is needed now, and we urge all Member States, including Ukraine and Russia, to join us in this effort – a simple historic statement from the General Assembly that looks forward, not backwards; a resolution focused on one simple idea, ending the war. A path to peace is possible,” she said.

French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière on behalf of the European Union, introduced the EU amendments to the US resolution and called on all UN Member states to vote in favor of the amendments which, he said, were a vote for international law.

Mr. de Rivière was speaking at his national capacity pushed for all States to vote in favor of the Ukrainian resolution which, he said, is “the result of negotiation that was inclusive and transparent.”

Ukraine, he added, has been defending itself in accordance with the UN Charter since the beginning of “the aggression”.

He also accused Russia of indiscriminately bombing towns and civilian energy infrastructure and flouting international humanitarian law. He also recalled the International Court of Justice demand that Russia immediately suspend its military operations, which dates back to 16 March 2022.

Russian Federation also introduced their amendments to the member states.

According to the operative paragraph, insert “including by addressing its root causes” after “a swift end to the conflict”

Russia urged countries to ‘make the right choice’

The Ambassador of Russia to the UN Vassily Nebenzia introduced Russia’s amendment to the US draft resolution.

He said many have asked what would be the right way to vote when it comes to the two texts.

“Well, everyone who is going to press the button during the voting process today has the chance,” he said.

“You either play along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his sponsors and support their incantations, which are divorced of realities, or make a choice, if we were practical: realistic steps which can stop the hostilities in Ukraine in the very near future.”

He told countries “Don’t get deceived, and make the right choice here.”

Mr. Nebenzia said Russia has introduced an amendment about the need to eliminate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, “and this, by the way, was mentioned by President Trump several times.”

He said this “would help with its lasting settlement, as is proposed by the United States in their text. And we expect, we trust, hopefully, the support of all sensible delegations in this room.”

EU draft amendment would have the General Assembly replace “lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation” with “just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States”

The draft amendment proposes to add a new paragraph: “Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters”

Chinese ambassador to the UN Fu Cong, explained his delegation’s position, said all pro-peace efforts should be supported. A binding peace deal should be acceptable to all parties, he said, also expressing hope that Europe would come together to address the root causes.

“At this critical juncture, we are counting on the international community to create an enabling atmosphere for a political solution to the crisis and for the General Assembly to help forge consensus for peace among Member States,” he said.

Dorothy Shea, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Us mission to the UN, urged Member States to vote no on the EU and Russian amendments to the US resolution.

Ms. Shea said that proposed added language in the amendments would “pursue a war of world’s rather than an end to the war.

“Neither these amendments nor the resolution offered by Ukraine will stop the killing. The UN must stop the killing. We urge all Member States to join us in returning the UN to its core mission of international peace and security.”

Canada announced its intention to vote in favor of the Ukrainian draft as well as the EU amendments to the US-drafted resolution which, according to Canadian Ambassador Bob Rae, “speak out on the principles of the UN and the principles of the Charter”.

Mr. Rae said that the question is what kind of peace is being discussed, one in line with justice and UN principles, or one that is a result of an imposition. He called on all Member States to condemn the actions of Russia.

South Africa abstained from the vote on the Ukrainian and EU-backed draft resolution.

Ambassador Mathu Joyini said that her country is committed to the cessation of the conflict and a “peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict within a rules based system centred on international law”.

Ms. Joyini said that the Ukrainian draft “does not go far enough in terms of inclusivity and creating a positive momentum towards a peaceful negotiation”.

United States-drafted resolution: This proposal calls for “a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.” Washington has been actively urged Member States to support this resolution, emphasized its focus on ending hostilities and promoting peace.

Ukraine-drafted resolution: Supported by Ukraine and its European allies, demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.

It also underscored the necessity of respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The existence of these competing resolutions highlights a divergence in strategies between the US and European nations regarding the path to peace in Ukraine.

The world body failed to adopt Russian amendment that proposed to insert the following into the US-drafted resolution: “including by addressing its root causes” after “a swift end to the conflict”. 

The amendments got 31 voted in favor and 71 against and Abstentions 59

World body adopted the Ukraine-drafted resolution with 93 voted in favor, 18 against and 65 abstained

The General Assembly adopted the US-drafted resolution, which contains the EU-tabled amendments with 93 voted in favor, Against 8 (Belarus, Burkina Faso, DPR Korea, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Russia, Sudan) and Abstentions: 73

World body has voted on two EU-drafted amendments to the US-drafted resolution titled Path to Peace.

The draft amendment proposed to add a new paragraph: “Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters”

On the second would have the General Assembly replace “lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation” with “just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States.”

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said that the essence of the US-drafted resolution and EU amendments is distorted, reflecting unrealistic expectations of how the international community can settle the crisis.

He said as such, Russia voted against the resolution.

The road to peace in Ukraine will not be easy, but this shouldn’t stop us, he said, expressing hope for other such initiatives.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UN, Joonkook Hwang, declared that his country voted in favor of the Ukraine resolution, the US resolution and the EU amendments to the latter document.

Hwang cited the “aggression raised by a permanent member of the Security Council against a sovereign State”, added that this “blatant violation of the UN Charter continues to bring immense suffering to innocent people”.

He added that the involvement of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Ukraine is “in blatant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions” and must stop immediately.

Colombia Ambassador to the UN Leonor Zalabata Torres explained why the country abstained from voting on the draft resolution submitted by the US, Stated that the Government has been emphatic in opposing war and all actions that attempt to keep war going and that move away from a frank discussion on an equal footing between the parties.

“Colombia is opposed to any attempt to exclude one of the parties involved in the war from the negotiating process aimed at providing a lasting response to the conflict on the understanding that it is only with the participation of both sides that we can see just and lasting peace come about,” she said.

She called for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that would lead to negotiations for a just and lasting peace.

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, flanked by co-sponsors of the Ukraine’s General Assembly resolution delivered a statement at the media stakeout just outside the Security Council.

Ms. Betsa noted that the General Assembly demanded “an early end to this war of aggression and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter.”

She said that the General Assembly’s reaffirmation of support for international law and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity was, profoundly important. 

Ms. Betsa warned that a peace deal that “risks rewarding aggression increases the risk,” and created a dangerous precedent for the future.

She reiterated Ukraine’s demand that Russia stop the war and ensure the full, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

World body adopted two distinct resolutions, one introduced by Ukraine and another by the United States.

US-led draft was adopted as amended to include European Union proposals, which the Assembly also agreed to. There was much debate over the text.

US voted against the EU proposed amendments and abstained from voting on its own resolution.

It also voted against the Ukraine-led draft, joined by Belarus, North Korea, Russia and 14 others in doing so.

General Assembly failed to adopt a Russian proposal to the US-drafted resolution in the morning session. .