UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 : The UN Security Council Monday evening adopted a U.S. resolution on the third anniversary of Russia\u2019s military intervention in Ukraine that softens Washington\u2019s stance on the conflict as President Donald Trump pushes for a peace deal.<\/p>\n
Ten of the 15 Council members, including Pakistan, voted for the resolution, which omitted mention of Russian aggression, in a stunning shift from years of US policy. There was no vote against the resolution, while five Western members \u2014 Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, United Kingdom \u2014 abstained.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Monday, the U.N. General Assembly rejected the U.S.-drafted resolution, which passed only after it was amended to state that the conflict was the result of a \u201cfull-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.\u201d<\/p>\n
But at the Security Council, the Western members failed in their attempt to include any reference to Russia\u2019s invasion as their motions to seeking to amend the resolution failed to garner enough votes \u2014 exposing a sharp split in transatlantic relations.<\/p>\n
The short US resolution mourns the loss of life in the \u201cRussia-Ukraine conflict\u201d, reiterates the UN\u2019s purpose is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes, and calls for a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace.<\/p>\n
Among others who supported the resolution were China and Russia.<\/p>\n
Explaining his vote in the Security Council, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, the alternate permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said that he had voted in favour of the US resolution as it was in line with Pakistan\u2019s clear and consistent position on the conflict in Ukraine, and its repeated calls for immediate cessation of hostilities and a negotiated settlement of the conflict.
\nNoting that the \u201cpriority of peace has remained largely absent and elusive\u201d, even as the security, humanitarian and economic crises have intensified, he said: \u201cA different approach was perhaps required.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pakistani envoy therefore expressed hope that today\u2019s resolution will \u201clend impetus to an inclusive peace process that yields a durable solution in accordance with international law\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pakistan, he said, remained deeply concerned by this tragic conflict, which has already left in its wake immense human suffering and massive damage to infrastructure, economy and the society, highlighting geo-political tensions and the economic consequences that have been particularly severe especially for developing countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe, therefore, support this resolution\u2019s general call for pacific settlement of disputes and for bringing a swift end to this conflict, in a manner that ensures lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine,\u201d Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said.<\/p>\n
In this regard, he said Pakistan\u2019s position on this, and other conflicts, is based on adherence to the principles of self-determination for peoples, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and non-acquisition of territory by the threat or use of force.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese principles must be respected and applied universally and consistently without any selectivity or double standards,\u201d the Pakistani envoy said.<\/p>\n
Referring to the efforts to bring an end to this conflict, he noted the recent high-level contacts between the leadership of the United States and the Russian Federation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe the conflict in Ukraine could have been averted through dialogue and diplomacy \u2014 It must be brought to an end now.<\/p>\n
\u201cPakistan stands ready to play a constructive role to promote this endeavour in cooperation with all member states united for this purpose- the path to peace,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Before the vote, Dorothy Camille Shea, the interim charg\u00e9 d\u2019affairs representing the United States, said the U.S. \u201cresolution puts us to the path to peace,\u201d and after the adoption of the resolution, remarked, \u201cNow we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Britain\u2019s ambassador, Barbara Woodward, in explaining its opposition to the measure, said: \u201cThe terms of the peace must send a message that aggression does not pay. This is why there can be no equivalence between Russia and Ukraine in how this council refers to the war.\u201d<\/p>\n
The face-off at the United Nations began with a three-page resolution introduced by Ukraine in the General Assembly, demanding Russian withdrawal, calling for a \u201ccomprehensive, lasting and just peace,\u201d and for accountability for Russia\u2019s war crimes.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration is reported to have tried last week to persuade Ukraine to withdraw its resolution, and when that failed the administration attempted to negotiate with European allies on a text that it would support.<\/p>\n
But on Friday afternoon amid negotiations, the United States told its European allies that it planned instead to put forth its own resolution. Days earlier President Trump had called Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, a \u201cdictator\u201d, asserting that Ukraine had started the war.<\/p>\n
France\u2019s Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere noted such proposed amendments demonstrate \u201cour resolute commitment \u2014 after three years of war \u2014 to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, he underscored that peace cannot be a synonym for capitulation of the aggressed State. The amendments, he said, also aim to recall that there is an aggressor and an aggressed State, with the Russia having attacked a sovereign State that posed no threat to it.<\/p>\n
On his part, the Russian Ambassador, Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya, said of today\u2019s text: \u201cWe consider it, overall, as a common-sense initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n
It reflects, he said, the desire of the new United States Administration to \u201creally contribute\u201d towards a settlement. He also proposed several amendments, including inserting language regarding the need to \u201ceradicate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis\u201d.<\/p>\n
On the amendments proposed by the European Union members, the Russian envoy said they \u201creplace the essence of the American text and make it into another anti-Russia ultimatum\u201d.<\/p>\n
None of the five proposed amendments were adopted, either because they failed to obtain the required number of votes or because the Russia cast its veto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 : The UN Security Council Monday evening adopted a U.S. resolution on the third anniversary of Russia\u2019s military intervention in Ukraine that softens Washington\u2019s stance on the conflict as President Donald Trump pushes for a peace deal. Ten of the 15 […]<\/p>\n
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