On Thursday, the UN General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution calling for a “just and harmonious” peace in Ukraine, a text for which Kyiv and its allies hope to gain the broadest possible support. The invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, “never in recent history has the line between good and evil been so clear-cut as it is today.”
The non-binding draft resolution stresses “the need for the speedy achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
He also reaffirms his “commitment” to “the unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine” and “demands” the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and calls for a “cessation of hostilities.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his hope for this peace, criticizing on Wednesday the “insult to our collective conscience” represented by the invasion of Ukraine, and said: “The possible consequences of an escalation of the conflict are clear and obvious. real danger”, in particular, speaking about nuclear risks.
In anti-Western rhetoric reminiscent of the Cold War, Russian President Vladimir Putin this week vowed to “systematically” continue his offensive against Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya lashed out at Western representatives at the General Assembly and said: “As part of their desire to defeat Russia in any way possible, they can sacrifice not only Ukraine, but are ready to plunge the whole world into war.”
European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell responded by saying that this conflict is not a matter of “West against Russia” and made it clear that “this illegal war concerns everyone: North, South, East and West.”
The three resolutions concerning the Russian invasion that the General Assembly voted on during the year received between 140 and 143 votes. Five countries systematically voted against the texts (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, and Eritrea), and fewer other countries abstained from voting.
However, the level of support for the fourth resolution was somewhat different (93 votes in favor, 24 against, and 58 abstentions), which provided for the suspension of Russia’s membership in the Human Rights Council.
For its part, Beijing, which abstained from voting at the UN on Ukraine, on Wednesday tried to play a mediating role, presenting to Moscow its vision of a “political settlement” of the conflict.
In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi a top-level Chinese official’s visit to Moscow since the two sides signed a “borderless” partnership weeks before the invasion of Ukraine began. New Horizons” and announced the forthcoming visit of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Russia, adding after receiving Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Kremlin that relations between the two countries had reached “new heights.” The statement came amid US fears that Beijing would provide material support to Moscow in its war with Ukraine, since China’s sending weapons to Russia could lead to a possible escalation of the war between Moscow and Kiev, become between Russia and China on the one hand, and Ukraine and NATO in led by the US on one side.
France: Account for Ukrainian refugees exceeds 490 million euros
The French Ministry of the Interior reported that the reception of Ukrainian refugees in France cost about 500 million euros, in particular, to accommodate and provide assistance to about 100,000 of them in the country a year after the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
Since the outbreak of the war on February 24, which resulted in Europe’s largest refugee movement since World War II, France has spent more than 490 million euros on an “unprecedented admissions plan,” according to the Interior Ministry. .
The ministry told AFP that about 220 million euros were spent “under assistance intended for beneficiaries of temporary protection” provided to Ukrainians, about 260 million euros “for accommodation” and 10.1 million euros “for daily stay and travel.”
The “shelter,” for which half the amount was allocated, includes the accommodation of internally displaced persons from Ukraine in hotels, special recreation centers and mobilized emergency living quarters – thirty thousand at the height of the crisis in March and April 2022 – or even “rooms attached to houses ” intended for reception throughout France.
On the other hand, about thirty thousand Ukrainian migrants are accommodated together with citizens.