UN passes resolution on Ukraine, US delays revoking Russia's 'most favored nation' status
Nearly three-quarters of the United Nations General Assembly members on March 24 voted to pass a resolution demanding that Russia end its military campaign and immediately withdraw all troops from Ukraine.
According to Reuters news agency, the resolution drafted by Ukraine and its allies received 140 votes in favor and 5 votes against from countries.Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea and Belarus. Meanwhile, 38 countries abstained.
In addition to demanding that Russia end its military campaign, the resolution also demands the protection of civilians, medical personnel, aid workers, journalists, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, and calls for an end to the siege of cities in the country, especially Mariupol.
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| Results of the UN General Assembly's vote on a new resolution on Ukraine. Photo: Reuters |
The new resolution echoes a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on March 2, which once again called on Moscow to cease hostilities and withdraw its troops from Ukraine. General Assembly resolutions, while non-binding, carry political weight.
The General Assembly vote on March 24 came just a day after Russia drafted a resolution calling for aid access and protection of civilians in Ukraine, but without mentioning the military campaign. The resolution was rejected by the Security Council, with only Russia and China voting in favor, while the remaining 13 member states abstained.
The US wants to remove Russia from the G20 group.
US President Joe Biden has expressed support for Russia's expulsion from the Group of 20 major economies (G20), and the topic was raised during his meeting with world leaders in Brussels, Belgium.
"My answer is yes, but it depends on the G20 decision," President Biden said at a press conference at NATO headquarters, on the sidelines of a special meeting between alliance leaders and G7 countries on March 24.
However, the country's head said that if other G20 countries do not agree to Russia's exclusion, then Ukraine should be allowed to attend G20 meetings as an observer.
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| US President Joe Biden at a press conference after meetings with NATO and G7 leaders in Brussels (Belgium). Photo: AP |
President Biden also warned China not to support Russia's military campaign or its economy would be at risk. He also stressed that Washington and NATO would respond appropriately to the use of chemical weapons.
In addition, the US also announced that it would welcome 100,000 refugees from Ukraine into the country. This is considered one of the largest refugee receptions by the US in many years.
G7 declares "no effort spared" to hold Russia "accountable"
In a joint statement on March 24, G7 leaders condemned Russia's special military campaign in Ukraine and demanded that Moscow immediately and "without delay" comply with the ruling of the International Court of Justice and suspend military activities in the neighboring country.
The G7 leaders also warned Belarus to "avoid escalating tensions and refrain from using military force to engage Ukraine", and called on "all countries not to provide or provide military support to Russia".
The G7 also warned against any threat of using chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The group also backed an International Criminal Court investigation into possible “war crimes” in Ukraine.
UNICEF: More than half of Ukraine's children are homeless
A report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on March 24 said that nearly a month of war in Ukraine has left more than half of the country's children homeless.
According to UNICEF, 4.3 million of Ukraine’s estimated 7.5 million children have been displaced from their homes. About 1.8 million of them have left the country and 2.5 million are displaced elsewhere within Ukraine.
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| A child looks out of the window of a train leaving the city of Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, in late February. Photo: AP |
“The war has caused one of the largest and fastest displacements of children since World War II,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “This is a grim milestone that could have lasting consequences for generations to come. Children’s safety, health and access to essential services are all under threat from unrelenting violence.”
US Senate delays stripping Russia of 'most favored nation' status
A bill to remove Russia’s “most-favored nation” trade status has been delayed in the US Senate until at least next week, after facing opposition from some Republicans.
The bill was blocked despite bipartisan US lawmakers insisting they wanted to present a united front in support of the Kiev government, a month after Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine.
The delay has hampered efforts by President Joe Biden's Democratic colleagues to pass the bill before Mr. Biden attends meetings with allies in Europe.
