Hours after Russia launched large-scale airstrikes in Ukraine, the two nations clashed at the United Nations General Assembly ahead of a likely vote this week on whether to condemn Moscow’s move to annex partially occupied regions in Ukraine.
Late Monday, public reaction summed up the initial results: Ukraine’s UN ambassador received applause while Russia’s delegate was greeted with silence.
Ukraine’s Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya opened his remarks by saying “My day started almost 14 hours ago because my country was under attack” and described his family sheltering in an apartment building.
“My immediate family was in a residential building that was under attack, unable to go to a bomb shelter because there was no electricity. Because Russia has already killed some of my family members and we don’t see an end to this cruelty,” Kyslytsya said.
A debate of more than 66 speakers should lead to the vote of a resolution strongly condemning the annexation of Russia and declaring it illegal under international law.
Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he saw dangerous cynicism in the room with countries ganging up on Moscow, and he mocked nations who accused his country of violating the charter by invading Ukraine.
Earlier, the General Assembly had largely rejected a Russian attempt to allow the vote on annexation by secret ballot. The vote in favor of a non-secret ballot was 107 nations. Thirteen opposed it. Thirty-nine nations abstained.
