The United Nations on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” as pro-Moscow authorities in several parts of the war-torn nation began to claim victory in annexation votes internationally condemned as a sham.
“The United Nations remains fully committed to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,” Rosemary DiCarlo, undersecretary-general for political affairs and peacebuilding, said at a UN Security Council session.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again denounced via video link the hastily organized elections in the Russian-occupied territories – Donetsk and Lugansk in the east and Kherson and Zaporizhia in the south.
“There is a very cynical attempt to force the male population in the occupied territories of Ukraine to mobilize into the Russian army to send them to fight against their own homelands,” he accused.
Targeting Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy warned that “annexation is the kind of move that pits him alone against all of humanity.”
“Now a clear signal is needed from all countries in the world,” he told the council, “I believe in your ability to act.”
Despite Zelenskyy’s appeals, there is no chance that the Security Council, which Russia has vetoed, will not have a unified stance on the attempted annexation.
Still, the United States wants to submit a resolution condemning the “sham referendums” calling on member states “not to recognize a changed status of Ukraine and obliging Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine,” the US ambassador to the United States said United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield.
“Russia’s sham referees, if passed, will open a Pandora’s box that we cannot close,” she warned.
“If Russia shields itself from accountability here in the Council, we will turn to the UN General Assembly to send an unequivocal message to Moscow,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
The UN General Assembly, which brings together the body’s 193 member states and has no veto power, has already passed several resolutions condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine.
