Ukraine insisted that aggression must be condemned and discredited, rather than rewarded
At the same time, the United States of America addressed Ukraine at the UN General Assembly, requesting the withdrawal of its draft resolution condemning Russia's aggressive war, and instead proposed its own text calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
This statement was made on Monday during an extraordinary special session of the General Assembly by the Deputy Permanent Representative of the USA to the UN, Dorothy Shea, as reported by Ukrinform.
“Since the start of the war 11 years ago, the UN has repeatedly condemned Russia's gross violations of the UN Charter. Numerous General Assembly resolutions demanded that Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine. These resolutions did not stop the war,” noted the US representative.
She pointed out that the war has dragged on for a long time and has resulted in a horrific toll on human lives in Ukraine, Russia, and beyond. Furthermore, Shea did not once use the terms “aggression” or “aggressive war” regarding Russia during her speech, which had been included in previous statements from the American delegation.
The US representative stated:
“The path to peace is possible, which is why the United States opposed the introduction of another resolution, and for this reason, we cannot support Ukraine's resolution. We urge (Ukraine, – ed.) to withdraw it in favor of a strong statement that commits us to ending the war and working towards lasting peace.”
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian delegation stated on Monday during the UN General Assembly meeting that the moment of truth has arrived for Ukraine, the General Assembly, and the entire world. In this regard, Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betza called on member states to support the Ukrainian resolution on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
She reminded that immediately after Ukraine's victory in the Revolution of Dignity, Russia began its aggression against our state by attempting to annex Crimea and temporarily occupying parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The weak international response to Russia's earlier attacks on Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk led to the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
“Russia has dragged a world already burdened with conflicts into yet another war. A war that is entirely unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal, driven solely by painful geopolitical illusions of the past, and at the same time, the bloodiest in Europe since World War II,” emphasized Betza.
The Deputy Minister noted that this war has never been solely about Ukraine; it concerns the fundamental right of every nation to exist, choose its own path, and live free from aggression.
“If the aggressor is justified while the victim is blamed for its resilience and will to survive, then no country can be safe,” she added.
According to her, we are fighting for a world that cannot be divided by another Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, where the future of a nation cannot be determined at yet another Yalta Conference.
“We must affirm that aggression must be condemned and discredited, not rewarded. Our position should include substantial elements and ensure that any future peace initiative aligns with the principles of the UN Charter. This is the basis of the draft resolution that I have the honor to present today on behalf of a broad group of co-authors,” emphasized Betza.
In addition to this document, today the UN General Assembly also voted on the American draft resolution regarding the third anniversary of the Russian war, with amendments opposed by the USA.
89 countries voted “in favor,” 8 “against,” and 69 “abstained,” including the United States of America itself.
European countries proposed a series of amendments to the American draft resolution of the UN General Assembly to align it with the position of the majority of countries.
In particular, the US draft “Path to Peace” did not mention the need to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity, nor did it label Russia as the aggressor.
The text prepared by the American delegation consisted of one sentence:
“The General Assembly, expressing sorrow over the tragic loss of life during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, reaffirming that the main goal of the United Nations, as stated in the UN Charter, is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully resolve disputes, calls for the swift cessation of the conflict and the further achievement of lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.”
European countries, led by France, proposed to replace “Russian-Ukrainian conflict” with “full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine”; to add a sub-item: “reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters”; to insert the words “just and comprehensive” regarding peace; and to add at the end: “in accordance with the UN Charter and the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of states.”
Thus, on Monday, the UN General Assembly adopted both resolutions, condemning Russian aggression and calling for the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
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