On the eve of the first anniversary of the conflict, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding the “immediate” withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.
On the eve of the first anniversary of the conflict decided by Vladimir Putin, 141 UN member states voted on Thursday, February 23, for a resolution demanding the withdrawal “immediate” Russian forces in Ukraine. During this year of war, Ukraine “didn’t crack” and will triumph over Russia, assured Thursday the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, comforted by new American sanctions to come against Moscow.
Franceinfo returns to the highlights of the day on the front of the war in Ukraine.
UN General Assembly adopts non-binding resolution demanding Russian withdrawal from Ukraine
The UN General Assembly on Thursday demanded a withdrawal “immediate” Russian troops who invaded Ukraine a year ago, overwhelmingly voting for a resolution also calling for peace “fair and sustainable”.
To applause, the non-binding resolution garnered the votes of 141 of the 193 UN member states, 7 voted against (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, Mali, Nicaragua, Eritrea) and 32 abstained, including China and India. Similar support in October, when 143 countries condemned the annexations of several Ukrainian territories by Russia, five voting against.
“We did not crack”, welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky
“We have not cracked, we have overcome many hardships and we will triumph. We will hold accountable all those who have brought this evil, this war on our land”proclaimed Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday during his daily speech.
Since the fall, the Russian army has regularly fired salvos of missiles to break Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the middle of winter. But that campaign has lost momentum in recent months as Ukraine has strengthened its anti-aircraft defenses and repaired damaged sites. “We have already survived this more than twenty times”commented Kyrylo Boudanov, the head of the main intelligence directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
Spain confirms delivery of six Leopard 2 tanks
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to Ukraine on Thursday to show his support for Volodymyr Zelensky, after US President Joe Biden on Monday and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday. He confirmed the supply of six Leopard 2 tanks and hoped to be able to send four more in the coming months. Finland has announced to send three.
Experts and observers expect the belligerents to each mount offensives in the weeks to come. In this context, the Ukrainian president said he wanted to discuss the Chinese peace plan with Beijing, deeming the involvement of this close partner of Moscow “positive” but specifying that he had not seen the document.
The West will tighten its sanctions against Moscow
The United States will “implement significant sanctions against key sectors that generate income“ in Russia, the White House said. The European Union is preparing a tenth package of sanctions which it hopes to be able to make public on Friday.
A virtual G7 on Friday, the United Kingdom puts pressure on its allies
The subject of Ukraine will be on everyone’s lips during a virtual summit of G7 countries on Friday. France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States will be joined by Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ahead of the meeting, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on his G7 allies to deliver more artillery to the Ukrainian army more quickly and provide it with longer-range weapons. “For Ukraine to win this war – and for that day to come sooner – it must gain a decisive advantage on the battlefield”must declare at this meeting the conservative leader, according to his services.
The road part of the Crimean Russian Bridge returned to service
The Crimean Bridge project was completed with “39 days ahead”, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khousnullin announced on Telegram on Thursday. The explosion of a truck bomb had destroyed in October this part of the building linking Russia to the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, annexed in 2014 by Moscow. Designated as responsible for the explosion by Moscow, the Ukrainian authorities have always denied having attacked the viaduct.