UN rejects Russia’s call for secret vote on Ukraine
- The General Assembly will instead hold a public ballet on a draft resolution to condemn Putin’s illegal referendums and annexation of 4 Ukraine regions
- Russia had argued that a secret vote was needed because Western lobbying would make it difficult for countries to express their positions openly
The UN General Assembly voted on Monday to reject Russia’s call for the 193-member body to hold a secret ballot later this week on whether to condemn Moscow’s move to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine.
The General Assembly decided, with 107 votes in favour, that it would hold a public vote – and not a secret ballot – on a draft resolution that would condemn Russia’s “illegal so-called referenda” and the “attempted illegal annexation”. Diplomats said the vote on the resolution would probably be on Wednesday.
Only 13 countries on Monday opposed holding a public vote on the draft resolution, another 39 countries abstained and the remaining countries did not vote. Russia had argued that a secret ballot was needed because Western lobbying meant that “it may be very difficult if positions are expressed publicly”.
Moscow has moved to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – after staging what it called referendums. Ukraine and allies have denounced the votes as illegal and coercive.
The draft resolution to be voted on later this week calls on states not to recognise Russia’s move and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed the international community earlier on Monday to make clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions are “completely unacceptable”.