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UN calls for end to Russia's war in Ukraine

25.02.2025 11:30
The United Nations General Assembly has voted to demand that Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine and end the fighting three years since it invaded its neighbour.
The UN General Assembly on Monday voted 93-18 with 65 abstentions to demand that Russia end its war in Ukraine.
The UN General Assembly on Monday voted 93-18 with 65 abstentions to demand that Russia end its war in Ukraine.Photo: EPA/SARAH YENESEL

A total of 93 countries on Monday supported a resolution that marked the third anniversary of the war by calling for a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace" and telling Moscow to pull out its forces and stop fighting, news agencies reported.

Eighteen countries, including North Korea, Israel and the United States, joined Russia in voting against the resolution, which was proposed by Ukraine and EU member states, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Sixty-five countries, including China, abstained.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude to the UN General Assembly for supporting the resolution, calling it a crucial step toward restoring the rule of international law, Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform reported.

"I am grateful to the UN General Assembly for supporting the resolution 'Promoting a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine,'" Shmyhal said on X.

"It clearly identifies Russia as the aggressor and reaffirms commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," he added.

"The resolution emphasizes that no territory seized by force can be recognized as legitimate," Shmyhal also wrote. "This is a crucial step toward restoring international law and returning the world to the principles of the UN Charter."

UN Security Council adopts US-drafted Russia-friendly resolution

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution that takes a neutral position on the war in Ukraine as US President Donald Trump seeks to broker peace, the Reuters news agency reported.

The resolution mourns the loss of life in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict" and urges a swift end to the three-year-old war and a lasting peace, according to Reuters.

The 15-member Security Council adopted the US resolution with 10 votes in favour, while France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained.

Earlier on Monday, the United States failed to persuade the General Assembly to pass the same Russia-friendly resolution approved by the Security Council, news outlets reported.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski cautioned the international community against abandoning Ukraine for the sake of an unstable peace and reaffirmed Europe's commitment to supporting Ukraine, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, Ukrinform