On March 2, the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council called an emergency session to vote on a resolution to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and demand that Moscow withdraw its military forces. In addition, the body asked for political dialogue and negotiations between the two countries in order to quell the conflict and ease global tensions.
The resolution passed due to the support of 141 of the 193 members, which included the United States, France and the United Kingdom– three of the five permanent Security Council seats.
The overwhelming support highlights the international community’s desire for peace and stability throughout the world, along with unification against Russia’s unwarranted actions.
However, 35 countries abstained, which most notably included China and India. In addition, five nations—Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria—voted against the resolution.
The last time the U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting was in 1982, so this measure stresses the urgency of the situation in Ukraine, especially as the humanitarian crisis worsens by the day.
Preceding the vote were speeches by multiple countries who sought to influence other states’ decisions. One was delivered by Ukraine Ambassador to the U.N. Sergiy Kyslytsya, pleading to those that planned to either abstain or strike down the resolution. “It is a mistake. The evil will never stop. It requires more and more space to conquer,” he said. “If tolerated, it advances further and further. The draft resolution is one of the building blocks to build a wall to stop it in Ukraine and not to let it go further.”
In addition, Kyslytsya shared a warning to the General Assembly. “If Ukraine does not survive, international peace will not survive. If Ukraine does not survive, the United Nations will not survive, have no illusions. If Ukraine does not survive, we cannot be surprised if democracy fails next,” he stated.
When Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya spoke, he denied that his country was waging an unprovoked war and targeting innocent civilians. He claimed that Moscow’s decisions are “distorted and thwarted” by the media as outlets spread “these lies.”
He added that the goal of the military invasion is to protect those living in the Eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. “For eight years, [these citizens] were subject to torment and genocide by the Kyiv regime. To that end, there is a need to demilitarize and de-nazify Ukraine,” Nebenzya said.
Since the vote, the war on Ukraine has escalated. The U.N. has reported that there have been over 750 casualties in the country and more than 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees. These numbers continue to grow.
This session was merely symbolic, as the U.N. does not possess the power to intervene militarily in international affairs. However, the passing of the resolution emphasizes growing Russian isolation on the world stage, especially with the recent increase of harsh Western sanctions and the severing of diplomatic ties across the globe. It represents a call for peace as the war in Ukraine continues to destroy the country and upend civilian lives.
