The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution condemning Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions, following a similar vote in the Security Council that was vetoed by Russia..
The resolution, which is expected to pass with a strong majority, will reaffirm the UN’s commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine and call on all states to refrain from recognizing the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions..
The vote is a largely symbolic move, as the resolution is not binding and Russia has already annexed the regions. However, it sends a strong message to Russia that the international community does not recognize the annexation and will not legitimize it..
The annexation of the four regions, which together make up about 15% of Ukraine’s territory, was widely condemned by the international community and has been met with sanctions from the United States, European Union, and other countries..
Russia has justified the annexation by claiming that the regions voted to join Russia in referendums held in September. However, these referendums were widely criticized as being illegal and coercive, and the results have been disputed by Ukraine and Western countries..
The vote on the resolution is expected to take place on Wednesday, October 12. It is likely to pass with a strong majority, as many countries have already expressed their support for it..
The resolution is likely to be welcomed by Ukraine and its supporters, who see it as a way to further isolate Russia and delegitimize its annexation of the four regions. However, it is unlikely to have any significant impact on the ground in Ukraine, where Russian forces continue to occupy the annexed regions..
The vote on the resolution is the latest in a series of diplomatic setbacks for Russia since it began its invasion of Ukraine in February. In March, Russia was suspended from the UN Human Rights Council, and in April, it was suspended from the Council of Europe..
The diplomatic isolation of Russia is likely to continue as long as it continues its aggression against Ukraine. The vote on the resolution is a clear indication that the international community stands with Ukraine and does not recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of its territory..
