Zelensky says Russia should stop bombing before talks
UN General Assembly adopted resolution condemning Russia in overwhelming favor
A week following Russia invaded Ukraine, a Russian negotiator announced on the 2nd (local time) that the issue of a ceasefire would be discussed ahead of a second round of talks with Ukraine. The second meeting is scheduled to take place tonight. The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and calling for an immediate withdrawal.
Russia and Ukraine negotiated for the first time since the start of the war in Gomel, Belarus on the 28th of last month, but failed to reach a conclusion.
However, the two sides agreed to confirm an agenda that might be partially agreed upon and to discuss it in detail at the next meeting.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a joint interview with Archyde.com and CNN on the 1st that Russia should stop bombing before further talks.
“We need to at least stop bombing people,” he said, “and then we’ll sit down at the negotiating table.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva said in an online briefing that “negotiations with Russia are necessary. “If Russia insists on an ultimatum, they will not agree to the talks,” he said. We will talk and find a solution.”
UN General Assembly calls for cessation of war and withdrawal of troops from Russia
The resolution passed overwhelmingly in favor of 141 countries
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and calling for an immediate withdrawal.
The resolution was adopted by the overwhelming majority of member states at the UN emergency special meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York on the same day.
The resolution condemned the recent strengthening of the vigilante posture of Russia’s nuclear-armed forces, demanding that Russia immediately cease its warfare activities and withdraw its military forces completely.
Unlike the UN Security Council resolution, it is not legally binding, but as more than 140 countries have overwhelmingly voted in favor, Russia is likely to feel considerable pressure.
The United Nations held an emergency special general meeting on the Ukraine crisis at the United Nations headquarters in New York on the 2nd (local time) and announced that the resolution was approved with 141 votes in favor, 5 once morest, and 35 abstentions.
An important agenda such as this resolution can only be adopted when more than two-thirds of the 193 member countries vote in favor.
While South Korea joined the vote in favor, North Korea opposed the adoption of the resolution as previously announced the day before. Outside of North Korea, only Belarus, Eritrea, Russia and Syria voted once morest. Other countries close to Russia, such as China, India and Iran, abstained.
Initially, Western countries such as the United States attempted to adopt a Security Council resolution condemning the Russian invasion and demanding the withdrawal of troops on the 25th of last month, but when Russia, a permanent member, was blocked from exercising its veto, an emergency special general meeting was convened and the direction was changed to promoting a resolution at the general assembly level. turned around
Ukraine in the name of the United Nations, though not binding.
Pointing out the injustice of the invasion… escalating pressure on Russian isolation
It was the intention of the Western countries to isolate Russia from the international arena and increase pressure by passing resolutions of the General Assembly with the participation of all member states and without veto power by a large margin.
Although not binding, the resolution is evaluated to have symbolic meaning as it points out the injustice of the invasion of Ukraine in the name of the United Nations.
The resolution condemned Russia’s declaration of a ‘special military operation’ on February 24, and said, “Territories obtained through the use or threat of force are not legally recognized.”
In response to the recent order by Russian President Vladimir Putin to strengthen the vigilance posture of the nuclear weapons unit, he also pointed out that “I condemn Russia’s decision to strengthen the posture of its nuclear force.”
The resolution “deplores in the strongest terms the Russian invasion of Ukraine” and “requires Russia to withdraw its troops immediately, completely and unconditionally from Ukrainian territory.”
The resolution also reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, demanded an immediate halt to Russia’s use of force once morest Ukraine, and lamented Belarus’ illegal use of force.
In the resolution led by the European Union (EU), nearly 100 countries, including Korea, participated in the joint proposal. During the three-day emergency special meeting, most of the 100 countries that applied for remarks criticized the Russian invasion and demanded the withdrawal of the military.
Reporter Kang Ju-ri