The UN General Assembly meets from Wednesday on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv and its allies hoping to garner the widest support for a resolution calling for a “just and lasting” peace.
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The draft resolution sponsored by some 60 countries “stresses the need to achieve, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”. It must be put to the vote after the debates which will begin at 3 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT) and will last at least until Thursday.
Like previous resolutions, the text reaffirms the “commitment” to “the territorial integrity of Ukraine”, “demands” the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces, and calls for a “cessation of hostilities”.
It does not, however, refer to the ten-point peace plan presented in November by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine, which had considered it for a while, gave it up to try to obtain as many votes as possible, according to diplomatic sources. At least as much as in October when 143 countries voted for the resolution condemning the annexations of several Ukrainian territories by Russia.
“We have arrived at a text which really tries to bring the international community together, to be as coherent and positive as possible”, commented a European diplomat.
A year after the invasion of Ukraine, it will also be a message telling Russia that “it cannot achieve its goals by force”, he added, hoping that if Moscow “feels really isolated, at some point the pressure will be too much to resist”.
But on the eve of the start of this session where many ministers are expected, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed on Tuesday to “methodically” continue his offensive in Ukraine, in a rhetorical speech. anti-Western reminiscent of the Cold War era.
Supporting peace in Ukraine “does not mean choosing between the United States and Russia”, but “defending the Charter” of the UN, replied the American ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, while some countries of the South express a certain weariness vis-à-vis the fact that the North remains focused on this war.
In this context, China, “very worried” about the conflict which “is getting out of control”, has indicated that it wants to present a proposal soon to find a “political solution” to the war. China, like India in particular, abstained during the UN votes on Ukraine.
And if Kyiv ‘isn’t in the mood to talk just yet,’ countries like China, Brazil or South Africa ‘could ‘start saying Ukraine is an obstacle to peace’ , comments Richard Gowan, analyst at the International Crisis Group.
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“That’s why the United States and the EU wanted a reference to the cessation of hostilities in the text this week,” he told AFP.
“Cessation of activities” accompanied by a withdrawal of Russian troops when a simple “ceasefire” could be only a lull allowing Russia to reorganize, note diplomats.
If this resolution is mainly “symbolic”, notes Richard Gowan, it will have the merit of underlining Russia’s isolation, “undermining Putin’s claims to lead a grand anti-West coalition”.
The three resolutions related to Russian aggression voted by the General Assembly for a year received between 140 and 143 votes in favor, with five countries systematically voting against (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea) and less than 40 abstaining.
A slightly different fourth in April, which suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council, was less consensual, with 93 votes in favor, 24 against and 58 abstentions.
