UN project: peace must see an intact Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Supporters of Ukraine have circulated a proposed resolution for adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, which would stress the need for a peace guaranteeing “the sovereignty, independence of Ukraine, unity and territorial integrity.

The draft, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, is titled “Principles Underlying a Comprehensive, Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine.”

The proposal is broader and less detailed than the 10-point peace plan the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at a G20 summit in November. This follows a deliberate decision by Kyiv and its allies to try to garner maximum support for the vote, said UN diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the talks. talks.

General Assembly spokeswoman Paulina Kubiak said on Friday that the body’s emergency session on Ukraine would begin in the afternoon of February 22. Dozens of speeches are expected to take up much of the 23rd, with voting expected to take place late in the day.

Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister said last month that Zelensky wanted to visit the UN on the anniversary, but diplomats said expectations of another major Kremlin offensive could hold him back in the country.

The General Assembly has become the most important UN body for matters related to Ukraine since the Security Council, which is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, is paralyzed by the law of Russia’s veto. Unlike that entity, there is no veto power in the Assembly, but while its previous five resolutions on Ukraine are important as a reflection of world opinion on the conflict, they are not legally binding.

The Security Council, for its part, will hold a ministerial meeting on February 24, the anniversary day. Diplomats from Moscow and kyiv will sit at the same table, as they did in dozens of meetings last year, but there will be no progress.

The draft resolution, which has Ukraine’s approval, was circulated Thursday evening to all UN members except Russia and its ally Belarus, and negotiations on the text have begun Friday afternoon, diplomats said.

The proposal stresses the need to achieve “as soon as possible a comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The Charter establishes that all member nations “shall refrain, in their international relations, from resorting to the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State”, and must settle disputes peacefully.

The draft urges members of the UN and international organizations to “redouble support for diplomatic efforts” to achieve peace under these conditions.

The document reiterates the Assembly’s previous demand that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all military forces” from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, and reaffirms that no territory gained by threat or force will be considered legal.

In addition, it demands that all prisoners of war, detainees and internees be treated on the basis of the Geneva Conventions, in addition to the “complete exchange” of prisoners of war, the release of those illegally detained “and the return of all internees and forcibly transferred and deported civilians, including children”.

The text urges nations to “cooperate in a spirit of solidarity to address the global impact of war on food security, energy, finance, environment and nuclear security”.

The resolution will also deplore “the terrible humanitarian and human rights consequences of the aggression against Ukraine, including the continued attacks on critical infrastructure throughout Ukraine, with devastating consequences for the civilian population”. and will demand full respect for international humanitarian law in order to protect civilians and infrastructure.

Zelenskyy’s plan is much more concrete: it includes the creation of a special tribunal to try war crimes committed by Russian troops, the construction of a Euro-Atlantic security architecture with guarantees for Ukraine, the recovery of damaged electricity infrastructure in the country and safety guarantees around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia.