The United Nations General Assembly voted on Monday to reject Russia’s call for the 193-member body to hold a secret ballot later this week on whether to condemn Moscow’s move to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine.
107 countries voted for a public vote, 13 voted for a secret ballot, another 39, including Zimbabwe abstained and the remaining, including Russia and China, did not vote.
Below is a picture showing how countries voted:
Some Context:
Russian President Vladimir on Friday 30 September 2022 signed documents signifying the annexation of nearly 20 per cent of Ukraine maintaining that Russia is not aiming to restore the Soviet Union.
According to Putin’s decrees published by the official database of legislative information, Russia has recognised the independence of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
This was despite United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning Russia against the “annexation” of the four regions accusing Moscow of prompting a “dangerous escalation,” and calling on the Kremlin “to step back from the brink.”
His remarks came one day before the ceremonial signing of treaties on the inclusion of the two Donbas republics, as well as states in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, into the Russian Federation.
On Friday 23 September 2022, United States of America’s President Joe Biden warned Russia there will be “swift and severe” costs if Moscow uses “sham” referendums to annex more of Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022 citing human rights abuses on Russian-speaking citizens, claims that were dismissed as propaganda to justify an “unjustified, unprovoked war” against its neighbours.