Although non-binding, the vote is seen as a global test of sentiment about Russia’s war against its neighbour. Besides Russia, only six countries voted against: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria. As with previous abstentions, China and India, two countries with a combined population of about 2.8 billion, abstained, along with South Africa and Iran. A number of South African countries also abstained from voting.
Behind the scenes, there was a long discussion about the content of the resolution. According to various sources, Ukraine had been working on a plan that would include a war crimes tribunal and a text that would convert a ten-point plan from President Zelensky into a UN document, but both ideas ultimately fell through.
It was therefore ultimately decided to have as many countries as possible vote for the general notion of peace. The resolution now states, among other things, that “achievement of a comprehensive peace would make an important contribution to strengthening international security”. It also calls for a full exchange of prisoners of war and stresses that “those responsible for war crimes will be held accountable”.
In March last year, 141 countries also condemned the invasion. Then, in October 143, they voted against Russia’s claim that it had annexed large parts of Ukraine.