"Overwhelming Support"... UN Adopts Resolution Condemning Russia's Illegal Territorial Annexation (Comprehensive)

143 Countries in Favor, 5 Against... China and India Abstain
Unlike Security Council Resolutions, It Lacks Binding Force Limitations

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A resolution condemning Russia's illegal annexation attempt of Ukrainian territory was adopted with overwhelming support at the United Nations General Assembly. It received the highest level of support among all anti-Russia condemnation resolutions held at the UN General Assembly so far. China and India abstained again, confirming their continued friendly relations with Russia.

On the 12th (local time), UN member states approved the resolution condemning Russia's illegal annexation attempt of Ukrainian territory at an emergency special session held at the UN Headquarters in New York, with 143 votes in favor, 5 against, and 35 abstentions.

The resolution, led by the European Union (EU), defines the referendums conducted by Russia in four Ukrainian regions?Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson?as illegal acts without legal effect under international law and does not recognize the annexation declaration. It also urges Russia to "immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from Ukrainian territory" and supports resolving the situation through dialogue and negotiations.

Notably, this resolution received the most support among the four condemnation resolutions against Russia adopted so far. Earlier, on March 2, shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a resolution demanding Russia's immediate withdrawal was supported by 141 countries; on March 24, a resolution specifying Russia's responsibility for Ukraine's humanitarian crisis was supported by 140 countries; and on April 7, a resolution to expel Russia from the UN Human Rights Council was supported by 93 countries.

According to the Associated Press, while most of the international community, including the EU, the United States, South Korea, and Japan, overwhelmingly voted in favor of the resolution, only Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Nicaragua, and Syria voted against it. China, India, Pakistan, and others abstained again, demonstrating the continuation of friendly relations with Russia.

Meanwhile, this vote was reinitiated at the UN General Assembly after a previous resolution condemning Russia, submitted to the UN Security Council at the end of last month, was blocked by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council. Unlike Security Council resolutions, which can be vetoed by permanent members, UN General Assembly resolutions have no veto power and are decided by majority vote among all 193 member states, each having one vote.

However, unlike Security Council resolutions, UN General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. Nonetheless, they are considered to increase pressure by highlighting the international isolation of the condemned country.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.