47 countries and EU have called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, - joint statement
47 states and the European Union have called on Russia to immediately end the war against Ukraine, withdraw all troops from Ukrainian territory and cease shelling the civilian population. The joint statement was released on 12 October by Andrii Melnyk, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, during a meeting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly.
This was reported by Censor.NET, citing a publication by the Ukrainian Mission to the UN.
The statement’s co-signatories include European states, as well as South Korea, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The participants emphasised the need to end Russian aggression and to uphold the principles of the UN Charter.
"Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter and poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to international peace and security, the rules-based international order, and the global non-proliferation and disarmament architecture," the statement reads.
Territorial seizures cannot be lawful
In a joint statement, the states condemned Russia’s attempts to consolidate the results of its aggression and emphasised that changing state borders by force is unacceptable.
"No territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force may be recognized as lawful," reads the document, as quoted by Andrii Melnyk.
The countries also condemned the Kremlin’s nuclear threats, which, in their view, Russia is using as a means of exerting pressure on Ukraine and the international community.
Separately, the signatories criticised the military aid provided to Moscow by Belarus, Iran and North Korea, emphasising that it contributes to the continuation of Russian aggression.
47 countries called on Russia to release the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Another key issue addressed in the joint statement was the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. The co-signatory states called on Russia to release Europe’s largest nuclear power station and to cease actions that pose a threat to nuclear safety.
The continued Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP remains one of the key security issues for Ukraine and Europe.
Ukraine insists on an end to Russian aggression
The joint statement by 47 states and the EU forms part of Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts to ensure that Russia’s war remains high on the international agenda.
Kyiv insists on the need to cease hostilities, withdraw Russian troops and restore respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. In the statement, the states also reaffirmed their principled position that the legalisation of territorial seizures carried out by force is unacceptable.
