Portugal and some 50 other countries on Tuesday called on all United Nations (UN) member states that provide material and political support to Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine to stop that assistance.
The call was made at UN headquarters in New York, just minutes before Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was due to chair a UN Security Council debate on “Multilateral cooperation for a more just, democratic and sustainable world order.”
In a statement read by Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsya, the signatories called the debate’s topic “yet another clear demonstration of Russia’s hypocrisy” that “should not distract the international community from the flagrant violations of the UN Charter by part of Russia and Russia’s abuse of the Security Council,” “cynically trying to present itself as the guardian of the multilateral order.”
“We reiterate our strong condemnation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” reads the statement, which was signed by countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, in addition to Portugal.
While reaffirming that Ukraine continues to “courageously defend its civilian population,” the signatory member states condemned the direct political and military support provided to Russia by countries such as North Korea, Iran and Belarus.
“We call on all UN Member States that provide material support to Russia’s military efforts, including dual-use materials such as weapons components, equipment and raw materials, to cease all material and political support to Russia’s military efforts,” they urged.
The statement further said that “the Russian Federation’s continued illegal actions and blatant hypocrisy undermine multilateral and international cooperation, demonstrate a complete disregard for the United Nations Charter, Security Council resolutions and the global non-proliferation regime, exacerbate regional tensions and threaten international peace and security.”
Some 50 countries also reiterated their demand that Moscow withdraw its military and unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhzhya NPP and immediately return the plant to full control of the Ukrainian authorities to ensure its safe and secure operation.
Calling on Russia to end this “senseless war,” the countries pledged to continue working together to realize “the vision of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the UN Charter and ensuring accountability for crimes of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
The Russian military offensive into Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, has plunged Europe into its most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Ukraine has relied on financial and military aid from Western allies, who have also imposed sanctions on key sectors of the Russian economy to try to reduce Moscow’s ability to finance the war effort.
Recent months have seen large-scale Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Kyiv’s forces have struck targets on Russian territory near the border and on the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed in 2014.
Already in the third year of the war, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are facing shortages of soldiers, weapons and ammunition, despite repeated promises of assistance from Western allies, which have since begun to materialize.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.