The UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, with 107 countries supporting, 12 opposing, and 51 abstaining including the United States.
UN Resolution Calls for Immediate Ceasefire
The resolution titled “Support for a lasting peace in Ukraine” called for “immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine” and reiterated the appeal for “a comprehensive, fair and lasting peace, in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter.” The resolution also appealed for prisoner exchanges and the return of forcibly displaced civilians, including children.
107 countries supported the resolution, 12 were against, and 51 abstained. Belarus and Russia voted against, while China, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Serbia, and the United States abstained.
Polish Radio correspondent in the US, Marek Wałkuski, noted that “18 countries belonging to Donald Trump’s Peace Council, i.e. two-thirds of its composition, did not support the UN resolution.”
USA: Political Will is Needed
The United States had earlier requested separate votes on two paragraphs of the resolution draft, but the request was not accepted by other countries. The Americans had objections to certain wording used in the text, particularly in a preamble mentioning “the unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.”
“The United States of course welcomes the call for an immediate ceasefire. As we have said, this resolution also contains formulations that probably distract from ongoing negotiations, rather than support a discussion of the full range of diplomatic actions that could pave the way for lasting peace,” explained Ambassador Tammy Bruce, deputy US representative to the United Nations.
“To end the war, political will is needed now. We believe we are closer to an agreement than ever since the beginning of this war. Let this be the last anniversary of a war that has lasted far too long and at far too high a cost. Let’s end it now,” added Ambassador Bruce.
Russia Shows No Willingness to End Aggression
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the 107 countries that supported the resolution.
“Despite international efforts for peace, the Russian Federation does not show real willingness to end the aggression, counting on the international community to tire of the conflict. The voting results proved the fallacy of these calculations, confirming the strong and consistent unity of UN member states,” stated the ministry.
“Ukraine will continue to strive to achieve a comprehensive, fair and lasting peace based on the UN Charter and international law, as well as to fully restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” noted the Ukrainian ministry.