IN The united nations The general assembly on Wednesday blamed Moscow for this invasion of Ukraine with a resolution calling for the withdrawal of all Russian forces.
Although it comes without teeth, such resolutions are often a powerful political tool.
Wednesday’s resolution, which was adopted with the support of 141 members of the 193-member body, came at the end of a rare extraordinary session and signaled Russia’s growing international isolation.
This happened when Moscow troops struck Ukrainian cities with air strikes and bombings.
Thirty-five members, including China and India, abstained, while five countries – Russia, Syria, Belarus, Eritrea and North Korea – voted against the resolution.
Prior to the vote, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield outlined exactly what was at stake. She said Russian forces seemed ready to step up their attack.
“We have seen videos of Russian forces moving extremely deadly weapons to Ukraine, which has no place on the battlefield,” she said.
“This includes cluster munitions and vacuum bombs – which are banned under the Geneva Convention.
We have seen the 40-kilometer deadly convoy attacking Kyiv. President Putin continues to escalate, putting Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert, threatening to invade Finland and Sweden.
“Every step of the way, Russia has handed over to the United Nations. Russia’s actions contradict everything that this body stands for.
A UN General Assembly resolution calling for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine was adopted on Wednesday by 141 votes to 5. Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria voted with Russia against the resolution
Delegates applauded when the resolution was adopted. It is not binding, but it provides a powerful political signal that Russia is isolated
Huge convoys of Russian armor rushed to several Ukrainian cities, only to meet fierce resistance, as well-armed troops used a mixture of their own and NATO-supplied anti-tank weapons to wreak havoc on the invaders.
A destroyed tank is seen blocking a street with damaged houses in the background in the city of Bucha, near Kyiv, while the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, March 1, 2022.
President Joe Biden also joined in when he left the White House to travel to Wisconsin.
He accused Russia of targeting civilians. “It is clear that they are,” he told reporters.
Ukraine estimates that 2,000 civilians have been killed so far.
However, Biden said it was too early to say whether Russia had committed war crimes. “We are watching him very closely,” he added.
Wednesday marked the seventh day of fighting in Ukraine.
An intense battle for the eastern city of Kharkov continued. The mayor told him he believed his defenses would stand up, despite the shelling that inflicted heavy casualties on the civilian population of the besieged city.
And Moscow has said it has taken control of the port of Kherson, a claim rejected by city officials, who said Ukrainian troops still control most of its territory.
Russia has yet to break through against Ukrainian forces and is facing an unprecedented reaction from the West.
Moscow’s Defense Ministry has released its first death toll, saying 498 Russian soldiers have been killed and 1,597 wounded, according to Russian media reports.
This is much less than Kyiv’s claims that its fighters killed 5,840 Russian soldiers.
The session of the General Assembly began on Monday, when a passionate request was heard from the Ukrainian ambassador.
Ukrainian forces inflict heavy losses on advancing Russian forces as fierce fighting in Ukraine enters its seventh day, according to a spokesman for the nation’s General Staff (photo: Russian armored vehicles remain destroyed or abandoned on the streets of Kharkov)
Ukraine claims that Russia has lost 5,840 troops since the beginning of the invasion, although these figures cannot be verified (pictured: Ukrainian territorial defense fighter examines destroyed Russian armored vehicle)
Sergei Kislitsa read the latest text messages from a Russian soldier to his mother – describing his horror of the unfolding war before he was killed.
“Mom, I’m not in Crimea anymore,” they began. “I’m not training.”
His mother asks, “Where are you then? Dad asks me if I can send you a package.
“What kind of shipment, Mom, can you send me,” he replies
‘What you mean? What happened?’
“Mom, I’m in Ukraine,” he replies before describing the horror unfolding.
“A real war is raging here. I’m afraid. We are bombing all the cities together, even whole civilians.
“We were told that they would meet us and they fell under our armored vehicles, threw themselves under the wheels and did not allow us to pass.
“They call us fascists. mom. It’s so hard.
In response, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia insisted that his country had launched what he called a “special military operation” only to protect two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
“Russia’s actions are distorted and thwarted,” he said.