Useless UN resolution on withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine
2023.02.24 01:31
Useless UN resolution on withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – On Friday marked the beginning of the second year of the war in Ukraine, which has no end in sight despite a vote at the United Nations demanding Russia withdraw its forces and global leaders preparing to increase aid to Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Moscow and countries supporting its war effort.
On the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion, its international allies offered their support as fighting raged in the east and south of Ukraine.
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, and people in Ukrainian flags gathered in London for a vigil with a banner that read, ” Ukraine is your home if you stand for freedom.
In a speech, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stated, “There will be a life after this war, because Ukraine will win.”
A resolution requesting Russia’s withdrawal and cessation of hostilities was unanimously approved by the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
141 votes were cast in favor, with 32 abstentions. Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, and Syria joined Russia in voting no.
China, a ally of Russia, abstained from the U.N. vote.
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Deputy United Nations Ambassador, called the United Nations action “useless.”
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, commended the vote.
In a tweet, he stated, “This resolution is a powerful signal of unwavering global support for Ukraine.”
As the anniversary approached, the Ukrainian military reported more Russian activity in the east and south, with at least 25 towns and villages in three northern regions near the Russian border under fire.
On February 24, 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with the intention of seizing Kyiv and overthrowing the pro-European government. However, Moscow was embarrassed by severe defense and military errors.
In late 2022, Ukraine was able to reclaim a significant amount of the territory it had lost through successful counteroffensives. About a fifth of Ukraine is now under Russia’s control.
The conflict, which Russia refers to as a “special military operation” meant to safeguard its sovereignty, has devolved into trench warfare of attrition, with both sides suffering increasing casualties, particularly this year in the fighting that took place in and around the eastern town of Bakhmut.
In November, the top U.S. general stated that more than 100,000 troops on each side had been killed or wounded, while some Western and American officials estimate Russia’s casualties at nearly 200,000 dead and wounded.
In what has developed into the worst conflict in Europe since World War Two, it is impossible to independently verify the number of casualties.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and millions of Ukrainians have fled their country. Russia denies using civilians as its target, despite being accused of war crimes by the West and Ukraine.
Putin has raised the specter of nuclear weapons and signaled a desire to double down on the conflict, despite major battlefield defeats. The war has damaged the global economy and established a chill of the Cold War in international relations.
The prospects for peace appear dim as Zelenskiy insists on Moscow’s withdrawal.
“When the war will end, we have no idea. However, one thing we do know is that after the war is over, we must prevent history from repeating itself, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters on Thursday.
He stated, “We need to stop Russia from chipping away at European security.”
On Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a virtual meeting with leaders of the G7 and Zelenskiy to commemorate the occasion and announce new sanctions against those who aid Russia in its war effort.
According to Jake Sullivan, the White House’s National Security Adviser, the United States will provide an additional $2 billion in assistance, and the new G7 sanctions will target nations that are attempting to supplement Russia’s supply of goods due to sanctions.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told Reuters on Friday that the G20 leaders in finance, who are meeting near Bengaluru, must condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. He also said that Europe was working on new sanctions against Moscow.
On the first day of the G20 meeting, Le Maire stated, “Sanctions will be more and more efficient, more and more effective.”
According to G20 officials who spoke with Reuters, India, which is currently in charge of the G20, wants the group to avoid discussing additional sanctions and insists on not using the term “war” to describe the ongoing conflict.
According to the United States, China is thinking about giving weapons to Russia. This could make the conflict worse and lead to a fight between Russia and China on one side and Ukraine and the NATO led by the United States on the other.
On Thursday, Putin said that China’s leader Xi Jinping would visit and praised “new frontiers” in the relationship between Moscow and Beijing. On Friday, Xi is expected to give a “peace speech,” but some analysts have doubted that China’s efforts to make peace go beyond rhetoric.
In a position paper released on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry stated that negotiation and dialogue were the only viable options for resolving the conflict.
The invasion, according to Ukraine and its allies, is an illegal land grab with the intention of subjugating a sovereign nation.
Putin announced on Thursday that new Sarmat multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles would be deployed this year, further escalating tension. He stopped Russia and the United States from participating in the nuclear arms control New START, or Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, this week.
Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, which together make up the industrial region known as the Donbas near the Russian border, are Russia’s military focus.
On Thursday, constant explosions could be heard close to a Ukrainian tank park near Bakhmut, which has become Russia’s primary target.
Everything else will become even more complicated if we give up Bakhmut. No matter what, we can’t give it up. We will persevere,” said tank operator Junior Sergeant Oleh Slavin.
