Ukraine: Nigeria, 140 others back UN demand for Russia troops withdrawal

Nigeria has joined 140 other countries to demand immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.


At its meeting on Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution after more than two days of extraordinary debate during which the Ukrainian ambassador accused Russia of genocide.

Along with Nigeria, the other 140 pro-Ukraine countries out of the Assembly's 193 member-states included the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Canada, which all condemned Russia. The resolution deplored the invasion of Ukraine 'in the strongest terms' and condemned President Vladimir Putin’s decision to put his nuclear forces on alert.

Nigeria’s stand was a historic departure from its non-aligned movement in the politics between the West and Russia.

Four countries - Eritrea, North Korea, Syria and Belarus - joined Russia to count the move, which signifies a powerful rebuke of Moscow’s invasion by a vast majority of the world’s nations.

About 35 countries – mainly from Africa – abstained from voting. They included: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

The resolution is however non-binding.

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group have meanwhile assured they would respond to Ukraine’s request for urgent financing with about $5.2 billion cumulatively.

A week ago (24th February), Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine which has now Ukraine said has led to dozens of casualties, including more than 40 troops and up to 10 civilians.

The United Nations reports that 100,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes with several thousand crossing into neighbouring countries.

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