EU concerned about UN vote on Ukraine – Borrell – RT World News

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has expressed disappointment that more countries have not backed the latest UN resolution on non-recognition of referendums on Russia’s membership in the EU. people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

Speaking at the European Diplomatic Academy on Thursday, Borrell said he was happy that « the system reacted very well » after 143 countries in the UN General Assembly voted to reject the referendums, with just five countries, including Russia, voting against the resolution.

“There has been a lot of work behind [this result]a lot of outreach to a lot of people to make sure we were above the 140 line, » said the senior diplomat.

However, Borrell went on to state that he was « worried because there were too many abstentions » while 45 countries, including China, India, South Africa, Thailand and Cuba, chose to abstain from voting for the resolution.

« When more or less 20% of the world community decided not to support or reject Russian annexation – for me that’s too much », said the diplomat, adding that « we are happy because the bottle is quite full, but it is a bit empty. »

Borrell insisted that more work needed to be done to convince more countries to condemn Russia and « reject the world » Moscow’s military campaign against Ukraine.

The diplomat’s comments come as Russia accuses the United States and its allies of using « diplomatic terror » compel more countries to support the UN resolution. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that Western nations are « twist the arms of developing countries and threaten them with all kinds of punishment » to get them to condemn Russia.

“It was only through open blackmail and threats that they were able to secure the outcome. We all understand perfectly. And the statements of the Americans that they do not persuade anyone, and that everyone votes for themselves, are a lie. And they know it too. said Lavrov.

Before launching its military operation in Ukraine in February, Russia recognized the sovereignty of the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, arguing that kyiv had failed to represent and protect the people living there. Residents of two other regions, Kherson and Zaporozhye, also voted by large majorities in public referendums to declare independence and join Russia. President Vladimir Putin signed unification treaties on October 5 with the four new Russian regions.