Status: 03/25/2022 01:41 am
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The UN General Assembly has voted in favor of a humanitarian resolution in the war against Ukraine. The vote shows that Russia remains isolated internationally.
By Antje Passenheim, ARD Studio New York
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With the vote, the general assembly demonstrates the great unity that the alliance against the Russian war had wished for. Washington’s UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said so afterwards. “Together, a strong majority of UN member states have made it clear that Russia bears responsibility for the serious humanitarian crisis and violence in Ukraine.”
Antje Passenheim
ARD-Studio New York
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140 countries approved the resolution, in which plain language is spoken. The declaration, the text of which Germany is also involved in, calls for an immediate armistice. Moscow must immediately withdraw its armed forces from Ukraine. Attacks on schools and hospitals, among other things, must stop. The text also expresses concern about a global hunger crisis – because now there are no grain exports from Ukraine, on which poorer countries in particular depend.
US Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield echoed President Biden’s words: “Vladimir Putin will not see victory in Ukraine. And we heard here today that he will not have that victory in New York either.”
Only five votes against
38 member states abstained from voting after a day and a half of speeches. Only four countries voted against the resolution along with Moscow: North Korea, Eritrea, Syria and Belarus. The decision thus has almost the same broad support as a resolution earlier in the month. In it, the world community had previously denounced Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
The recent vote shows that Russia has apparently not gained any supporters. However, a counter-proposal from South Africa caused irritation in the short term. This text called for humanitarian aid – but made no mention of Russia’s responsibility.
As expected, the resolution failed. After all, the humanitarian crisis in question did not hit Ukraine by chance or like a natural disaster, said Canada’s UN Ambassador Robert Rae.
If we don’t clearly identify the aggressor and insist that he respect international law and abide by the orders of the International Court of Justice, then I believe we have failed.
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Resolution not binding under international law
According to diplomats, the resolution is once again a strong signal, which is primarily intended to give Ukraine a boost. What the decision can actually contribute to solving the humanitarian crisis is questionable. Resolutions in the General Assembly are not binding under international law – as they would be in the Security Council.
But Russia has a veto there – and a clear resolution like this would not have had a chance there. In the run-up to it, there had been much argument about the price at which the words should be softened so that Russia could possibly support a text.
UN General Assembly approves humanitarian resolution for Ukraine by majority
Antje Passenheim, ARD New York, March 24, 2022 8:48 p.m
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