UNITED NATIONS (AN) — The U.N. General Assembly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a 141-5 vote on Wednesday and demanded that Russian forces immediately halt their deadly offensive on key Ukrainian cities and ports.
Only Russia along with Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria voted against the nonbinding resolution, which carries moral weight even if it cannot force Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. Thirty-five nations, notably including China, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Vietnam, abstained from the vote.
It was the first such emergency session of the 193-nation world body in more than a quarter-century.
Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said Russia wants to "deprive Ukraine of the very right to exist" as he called for solidarity with his country among the international community.
U.N. General Assembly demands Russia stop its offensive in Ukraine and withdraw all troops. Vote was 141 to 5, with Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Russia, Syria opposed. Among the 35 abstentions were China, Iran and India. pic.twitter.com/dsm9kqUmiA
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'Barbaric' crimes
The world is "living through a defining moment for our generation," Kyslytsya said, and "it falls to us to save future generations" from the scourge of war that led to the creation of the United Nations at the end of World War II.
"For almost a week Ukraine has been fighting. Fighting under bombs and missiles. Fighting in the face of armadas of hardware and countless crowds of enemies. They have come to Ukrainian soil not only to kill some of us. Not only to shift our course and priorities. They have come to deprive Ukraine of the very right to exist," said Kyslytsya.
"I will not recite all the facts of new war crimes and crimes against humanity that the Russian troops have committed since my previous statement two days ago," he said. "The list is so long that we will run out of time. The crimes are so barbaric that it is difficult to comprehend."
