Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

October 12, 2022

Today the overwhelming majority of the worldânations from every region, large and small, representing a wide array of ideologies and governmentsâvoted to defend the United Nations Charter and condemn Russia's illegal attempt to annex Ukrainian territory by force. One hundred and forty-three nations stood on the side of freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, even more than the 141 nations that voted in March to unequivocally condemn Russia's war against Ukraine. Only four chose to side with Russia: Belarus, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, and Syria.

By attacking the core tenets of the U.N. Charter, Russia is tearing at the very foundations of international peace and security. The stakes of this conflict are clear to all, and the world has sent a clear message in response: Russia cannot erase a sovereign state from the map. Russia cannot change borders by force. Russia cannot seize another country's territory as its own. Ukraine is entitled to the same rights as every other sovereign country. It must be able to choose its own future, and its people must be able to live peacefully inside its internationally recognized borders.

Nearly 8 months into this war, the world has just demonstrated that it is more united and more determined than ever to hold Russia accountable for its violations. Together with the U.N. General Assembly, we will not tolerate illegal attempts at annexation or the theft of a neighbor's land by force. We will stand up for international law, the U.N. Charter, and the rights and protections it affords to Ukraine and its peopleâand to every state and people everywhere.

Categories: Statements by the President : Russia's illegal attempts to annex Ukrainian territory, United Nations General Assembly vote to condemn.

Subjects: Russia : Ukraine, airstrikes and invasion; Russia : Ukraine, annexation referendums; Ukraine : Russian airstrikes and invasion; Ukraine : Russian annexation referendums; United Nations : General Assembly.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200908.

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