Ukraine war: UN condemns Russian invasion ahead of anniversary

The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to o.k. a solution condemning Russia's penetration of Ukraine.

It called for the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine and a halt to fighting.

141 nations voted successful favour of the motion, with 32 abstaining and 7 - including Russia - voting against.

The ballot came aft a ample fig of delegates walked retired during a Russian code astatine a parliamentary league of the European information assemblage successful Vienna.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation successful Europe (OSCE) walkout and the UN ballot came a time earlier the archetypal day of the invasion.

The UN ballot called for bid arsenic soon arsenic possible.

The solution reaffirmed enactment for Ukraine's "sovereignty" and "territorial integrity," rejecting immoderate Russian claims to the parts of the state it occupies. In September, MPs successful Moscow voted to illegally annex 4 regions of Ukraine.

The UN besides demanded "that the Russian Federation immediately, wholly and unconditionally retreat each of its subject forces from the territory of Ukraine wrong its internationally recognized borders," and called "for a cessation of hostilities".

The measurement is not legally binding, but holds governmental weight.

While the solution was passed overwhelmingly by the bulk of nations, determination were immoderate notable abstentions.

China, India, Iran and South Africa were among the 32 countries to abstain successful the vote.

The 7 countries who voted against were Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the ballot "made it wide that Russia indispensable extremity its amerciable aggression. Ukraine's territorial integrity indispensable beryllium restored".

"One twelvemonth aft Russia launched its full-scale penetration planetary enactment for Ukraine remains strong," helium tweeted.

Earlier astatine the OSCE successful Vienna, the determination to springiness visas to the Russian delegation caused anger.

Ukraine and Lithuania boycotted the league wholly implicit Austria's determination to invitation officials from Moscow, contempt immoderate being nether EU sanctions.

The Austrian authorities said it was obliged to bash truthful nether planetary instrumentality due to the fact that the OSCE has its office there.

Latvian MP Rihards Kols described the Russian beingness arsenic the "elephant successful the room", adding it was a "disgrace" that they were allowed to instrumentality part.

A ample fig of delegates past staged a walkout during the Russian address.

The Russian delegate, Vladimir Dzhabarov, derided delegates for walking out, repeating mendacious claims that Russia's penetration of Ukraine is simply a conflict against nationalists and Nazis who Moscow claims are starring the Kyiv government.

The OSCE was founded successful 1975 to amended relations betwixt the Western and Eastern blocs. Its existent members see members of Nato and allies of Russia.

President Vladimir Putin sent up to 200,000 soldiers into Ukraine connected 24 February 2022 successful the biggest European penetration since the extremity of World War Two.

The devastating warfare that ensued has near astatine slightest 7,199 civilians dormant and thousands of others injured, according to a UN estimate, with the existent fig apt to beryllium overmuch higher.