The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on Russia to cease hostilities in Ukraine by a large majority in New York on Thursday, with just five countries voting against, MIA reports.
The resolution demanding “an immediate cessation of the hostilities by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in particular of any attacks against civilians and civilian objects” was backed by 140 members in the General Assembly.
Thirty-eight countries abstained, while Russia, Syria, Belarus, North Korea and Eritrea voted against. At the start of March, 141 votes were cast in favour of a General Assembly resolution calling on Russia to withdraw all of its military forces from Ukraine.
Thursday’s resolution repeated the call for Moscow to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and urged it to halt attacks on schools and hospitals. It also expressed concern regarding a global food shortage on account of Ukraine’s large exports of grain.
The resolution called for refugees from the conflict – particularly those from third countries – not to be subjected to racist treatment. While Western countries backed the resolution, major countries like China, India and Iran abstained.
A draft resolution put forward by South Africa generated controversy before a majority rejected putting it to a full vote. The text was much more neutral and contained no word of Russian aggression towards Ukraine.
