United Nations General Assembly Votes To Denounce Russia

On March 2nd, 141 of the 193 United Nations General Assembly members voted to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine and order for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. The decision comes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine beginning February 23rd, which has caused the deaths of numerous civilians and children. The United States and European Union countries have already imposed strict economic sanctions to attempt to deter any further invading, destruction or violence. Only 35 members of the assembly abstained from voting, including China and India. Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, Syria, Belarus, and North Korea voted against the condemnation of the war started in Ukraine.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been present ever since Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. But tensions bubbled to the surface recently when Ukraine said they wanted to form part of the NATO alliance. This would impede Russian president Vladimir Putin from fulfilling his theorized goal to restore some of the Soviet Union’s former glory and international standing by taking back a previously Soviet region that had not yet joined NATO.

When German chancellor Olaf Scholz stated on February 16th that “Ukraine’s NATO membership [was] not on the agenda,” Putin took this particular moment in time to strike before Ukraine could have potentially formed stronger connections with NATO countries. It may still be up in the air whether or not Ukraine may acquire stronger defense through future alliances, so waging war against them was a way for Russia to prevent this and nip that concern in the bud.

“Vote yes if you believe UN member states – including your own – have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vote yes if you believe Russia should be held to account for its actions,” said U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed his approval for the vote outcome, tweeting, “I’m grateful to everyone and every state that voted in favor. You have chosen the right side of history.”

In an address given on February 28th, President Zelensky also urged for Ukraine’s immediate membership into the EU saying, “Ukrainians have shown the world who we are. And Russia has shown what it has become,” and thankfully, the EU has begun to work towards that request. One of the most important goals that the EU President Roberta Metsola has set for the Union to address is Europe’s reliance on Russia for natural gas.

Europe is highly dependent on Russia for their natural gas industry and wouldn’t want to risk losing that resource, especially during a cold month for the region. So they are currently working towards finding a way to terminate that relationship, which is essential to get closer to the international goal of isolating Russia and punishing them for the humanitarian crisis and senseless violence they have caused.

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