- 7
- 24.02.2023 09:20:00
- 2 min read
On February 23, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the need to achieve a "comprehensive, just and lasting" peace in Ukraine as soon as possible in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
The United Nations website reports that 141 countries voted in support of the resolution, 32 countries abstained and seven – Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria – voted against. The amendments proposed by the Republic of Belarus were rejected.
Among the countries that abstained from voting on the resolution are Armenia, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
It is noted that the General Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.
The members of the General Assembly demanded that "the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," and called for a cessation of hostilities.
The General Assembly "demands that the treatment of all prisoners of war by the parties to an armed conflict comply with the provisions of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949 and Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and calls for a full exchange of prisoners of war, the release of all illegally detained persons and the return of all interned and forcibly displaced and deported civilians including children," the resolution says.
The delegates of the General Assembly expressed "regret over the grave human rights and humanitarian situation that has developed as a result of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine."
The document calls for the parties to comply with their obligations regarding the protection of civilians and civilian objects and to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to those in need of assistance, as well as for an immediate cessation of attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools and hospitals.
The resolution also emphasizes "the need to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine under international law through proper, fair and independent investigation and prosecution at the national or international level."
