UN condemns Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions in landslide vote as Biden sends message
New York, New York - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday condemned by a vote of 143-5 Russia's recent move to annex four Ukrainian regions, with 35 countries abstaining.
The measure is not binding, but the resolution declared the annexation to be invalid and demands that Russia undo its moves to incorporate the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
Along with Russia, the no votes came from Belarus, Nicaragua, North Korea and Syria.
President Joe Biden said that the resolution was a message to Moscow that it can't erase a sovereign state from the map.
"Today, the overwhelming majority of the world – nations from every region, large and small, representing a wide array of ideologies and governments – voted to defend the United Nations Charter and condemn Russia's illegal attempt to annex Ukrainian territory by force," Biden said in a statement.
"The stakes of this conflict are clear to all and the world has sent a clear message in response: Russia cannot erase a sovereign state from the map. Russia cannot change borders by force. Russia cannot seize another country's territory as its own," he added.
"Nearly eight months into this war, the world has just demonstrated that it is more united, and more determined than ever to hold Russia accountable for its violations."
Cover photo: REUTERS