UN General Assembly seeks immediate Russian withdrawal from Ukraine

New Delhi, July 12:The UN General Assembly called for Russia to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw all military forces from Ukrainian territory. The Assembly also urged an end to attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure amid escalating tensions.

A resolution titled "Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant" was adopted, with 99 countries voting in favour and nine against, including Belarus, Burundi, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria. Sixty Members including India and China States abstained.

The resolution demanded that Russia "urgently withdraw" its military and unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and "immediately return" the plant to full Ukrainian control to ensure its safety and security.

The resolution called upon Russia, until it returns the Zaporizhzhia plant, to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia with timely and full access to all areas important for nuclear safety and security. This access would allow the IAEA to report fully on the nuclear safety situation at the site.

The draft resolution, introduced by Ukraine and sponsored by over 50 countries, including France, Germany, and the United States, emphasized the need for immediate action.

Introducing the resolution, Ukrainian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya highlighted the dangers posed by Russia's control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, warning that any incident there would have catastrophic repercussions.

"Radiation knows no borders," he said, stressing that radioactive fallout can travel vast distances, affecting regions far from the site of the incident. He urged all nations to support the resolution, emphasizing the need to prevent nuclear disasters for the sake of future generations.

In contrast, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy, criticized the resolution as harmful and heavily politicised, arguing it had little to do with nuclear safety.

"The true goal is to use this pseudo nuclear package to sneak in political elements unrelated to the stated problem," he said, accusing the resolution's sponsors of using non-inclusive and non-transparent methods. Polyanskiy claimed Ukraine posed a real threat to nuclear safety, alleging reckless attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and its infrastructure.