UN General Assembly convenes emergency session on Ukraine
The United Nation General Assembly convened an emergency session Monday to discuss Russia-backed 'illegal' referendums to annex parts of eastern Ukraine_ with Kyiv's envoy accusing Russia of being a 'terrorist state' hours after it conducted deadly strikes across his country that killed at least 14 civilians.
'The entire world has once again seen the true face of the terrorist state that kills our people_' Ukraine's UN ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the UN General Assembly.
'Deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime. By launching missile attacks on civilians sleeping in their homes or rushing to work_ children going to schools_ Russia has proven once again that it is a terrorist state that must be deterred in the strongest possible ways_' said Kyslytsya.
He said Moscow's illegal annexations of Ukrainian territory pose an 'existential threat' to the United Nation_ and the international community needs to defend the principles of the UN Charter.
'A trail of blood is left behind the Russian delegation when it enters the General Assembly_ and the hall is filled up with the smell of smoldering human flesh.'
Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia called the meeting 'highly politicized_' adding it was specifically launched to promote an anti-Russian narrative.
Nebenzia accused NATO of escalating the conflict and said it is NATO that Russia is really confronted with in Ukraine. He said Ukraine is being used as a 'testing site for NATO weapons' and proxy fights with Russia.
The General Assembly is expected to vote on a draft resolution this week condemning Moscow-backed 'illegal' referendums to annex parts of eastern Ukraine- Donetsk_ Luhansk_ Zaporizhzhia and Kherson- in violation of international law.
A resolution drafted by the European Union and co-sponsored by Türkiye for the UN body to consider would isolate Russia from the global community if adopted.
Russia asked for a secret ballot for the vote_ but the UN General Assembly rejected its request with 107 votes in favor.
Thirteen countries voted against holding a public vote on the draft resolution while 39 countries abstained. Russia and China did not vote_ along with some other countries.
The draft UN General Assembly resolution calls on all states and international organizations not to recognize any alteration of Russia of the four regions in eastern Ukraine and demands that Russia immediately and unconditionally reverse its decisions.
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