Video monitors show member nation vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favor of a resolution condemning Russia s illegal referendum in Ukraine, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022 at U.N. headquarters. AP
The vote in the 193-member world body was 143-5 with 35 abstentions, the strongest support from the General Assembly for Ukraine and against Russia of the four resolutions it has approved since Russian troops invaded their smaller neighbor Feb. 24.
Western nations engaged in intense behind-the-scenes lobbying ahead of the vote while Russia's ally Syria warned against isolating Moscow.
During Wednesday's debate there was strong support for the resolution.
Australia's UN Ambassador Mitch Fifield called Russia's attempted annexation "illegal and a dangerous escalation'' and urged all countries to support the resolution to oppose acts of aggression.
Ireland's UN Ambassador Fergal Mythen said voters in the "sham'' referendums in the four regions "faced intimidation by the Russian military and Russia's illegitimately appointed authorities.''
Cambodia's UN Ambassador Sovann Ke didn't indicate how he would vote but said "the forcible annexation of regions from a sovereign country is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international laws, which is not acceptable'' and urged that internationally respected borders "be fully respected.''
South Korea's UN Ambassador Hwang Joonkook gave its unequivocal support "to the sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of Ukraine,'' stressing that "its own painful experiences'' after the 1950-53 Korean War "can testify that any attempt to divide a nation in any form or method is merely the beginning of lasting very serious troubles, rather than a solution.''
On the other side of that divide, North Korea's UN Ambassador Kim Song supported the "self-determination'' of the people in the four regions annexed by Russia as a right protected in the UN Charter and said the results must be respected.
He accused the United States and Western countries of ``brutally'' violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya under "the pretext'' of promoting international peace and security without ever having its actions called into question by the Security Council. And he claimed US interference in the internal affairs of countries is continuing in the 21st century.
Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia on Monday decried the debate as a one-sided exercise in pushing an anti-Russian narrative.
He reiterated Russia's claims that the referendums were valid and that Moscow is endeavoring to "protect'' people in the regions against what the Kremlin views as a hostile Ukrainian government.
Addressing the deep division among UN member nations, Nebenzia said, "Such cynicism, confrontation and dangerous polarization as today we have never seen in the history of the UN''
Syrian Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh echoed that view Wednesday, accusing the General Assembly of "being manipulated flagrantly by some Western countries for their own geopolitical interests.''
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