Gulf states back UN vote condemning Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories

193-member body demands Moscow reverse its actions

Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya speaks during the General Assembly emergency meeting. AFP

Gulf states voted at the UN to condemn Russia's self-declared annexation of four eastern Ukrainian territories and threw their weight behind a resolution that demanded that Moscow reverse course.

The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority at the UN General Assembly's emergency meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting began on Monday to debate a European-drafted resolution condemning Russia’s annexations, considered illegal by the West, as Kyiv's allies sought to underscore Moscow's international isolation.

In all, 143 nations supported the resolution while 32 abstained. Only North Korea, Syria, Nicaragua, Belarus and Russia opposed it.

Saudi Arabia, which the US has accused of siding with Russia over recent Opec+ oil production cuts, voted in favour of the resolution, as did the UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

The decision to bring the matter before the assembly, where the 193 UN members have one vote each and no one has the power of veto, was made after Russia used its veto in a Security Council meeting on September 30 to block a similar proposal.

Last month, Russia held a series of what the West calls illegal referendums in Ukraine's breakaway enclaves of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Shortly after, President Vladimir Putin formally annexed the territories, even though none are fully in Moscow's control.

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  From left, Moscow-appointed head of Kherson region Vladimir Saldo, Moscow-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin, and leader of the Luhansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik during a ceremony to sign an annexation agreement with Russia in Moscow. AP

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  Russians gather for a celebration after the ceremony in central Moscow. EPA

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  People gather near a screen showing Mr Putin during a broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters

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  Mr Putin speaks during the ceremony to sign the treaties for the new territories' accession to Russia at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. EPA

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  Law enforcement officers stand guard as people walk towards Red Square to attend the ceremony marking the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories. Reuters

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  Participants listen to Mr Putin at the ceremony in the Georgievsky Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Reuters

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  Honour guards attend the ceremony. Reuters

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  Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrives at the ceremony. AP

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  People walk towards Red Square in Moscow. Reuters

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  People gather in front of screens located near the Kremlin before the live broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters

President Joe Biden said Wednesday's vote demonstrates the world is "more united, and more determined than ever" to hold Russia accountable for violating the UN Charter.

"Together with the UN General Assembly, we will not tolerate illegal attempts at annexation or the theft of a neighbour’s land by force," Mr Biden said in a statement.

Western nations engaged in intense lobbying before the vote while Russia’s ally Syria warned against isolating Moscow.

Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UN vote was a “powerful” demonstration of the international community’s widespread condemnation of Russia’s “outrageous, illegal attempts” to annex the territories.

“This is an important show of international unity against an aggressor that seeks to destabilise the international norms that protect us all,” Mr Cleverly said.

“The vote is indisputable evidence of what we have known for some time — Putin stands alone on the international stage and his actions are driving his country further into self-inflicted isolation.”

The war in Ukraine has entered a perilous new phase after the bombing of a bridge linking Russian-claimed Crimea to the mainland and the deadly response, in which Moscow unleashed a barrage of missile strikes against Ukrainian cities.

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  Cars burn after Russian missile strikes in Kyiv. Reuters

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  Thick smoke billows over central Kyiv after at least two blasts took place in the city shortly after 8am local time. Reuters

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  Two explosions rocked Kyiv early on Monday following months of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital. Reuters

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  Rescue workers survey the scene of a Russian attack on Kyiv. AP

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  People view the scene in Kyiv. Reuters

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  A part of missile on the ground in Kyiv. Reuters

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  A man runs past a burning car in Kyiv. Reuters

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  People take shelter underground in Kyiv. Getty Images

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  Emergency service personnel attend the site of the blast. Getty Images

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  People receive medical treatment at the scene. AP