In a joint statement on Monday, the UN members said they "condemn Russia for once again abusing its UN Security Council seat to spread disinformation."
They added: "We reject Russia’s continued efforts to distort history for its own political purposes and to promote hugely damaging false narratives and disinformation about neighboring countries, including by labeling others as 'neo-fascists' and 'neo-Nazis' without a basis in fact."
The statement said that Russia was making repeated "cynical and transparent" attempts to "justify its unprovoked, full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine, the continued impacts of which are dire, not only for the people of Ukraine, but for people around the world."
The signatories added that Russia was making deliberate efforts to divert the international community’s attention from its own "blatant violations of the UN Charter and other international law, including its ongoing violations of international human rights law in Russia and rampant human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine."
"We reaffirm our unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters," the statement signatories said.
"We reiterate our call on Russia to cease its hostile disinformation campaigns against Ukraine, to end its brutal and premeditated war of aggression, and to withdraw immediately, completely, and unconditionally its forces and equipment from the territory of Ukraine," they added.
They pledged to "continue to uphold international peace and security, and to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression, and the rule of law."
They also vowed to "continue to condemn Nazism, neo-Nazism, antisemitism, anti-Roma racism, and other forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and intolerance."
The statement was signed by Poland, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
The UN Human Rights Council in mid-May voted to set up an investigation into possible war crimes by Russian troops in Ukraine.
Members at the time passed a resolution by an overwhelming majority to order an inquiry into events in Ukraine's Kyiv region and other areas that were temporarily held by Russian troops earlier this year, according to a report by the Reuters news agency.
The United Nations General Assembly in April suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council amid reports of "gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" in Ukraine.
Poland's Szczerski said at the time that "a country that deliberately kills civilians on a massive scale cannot be an active member of the Human Rights Council, the most important body in the UN system, mandated to protect and respect human rights globally."
On March 24, the 193-member UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to demand aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine, amid a humanitarian crisis created by Russia's invasion of the country.
On March 2, the assembly voted to reprimand Russia for invading Poland's eastern neighbour and demanded that Moscow stop fighting and withdraw its forces from Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, usun.usmission.gov