The United Nations General Assembly today adopted by a large majority a resolution that condemns Russia's "attempts to illegally annex" the four partially occupied regions in Ukraine and calls on all countries not to recognize these territories as part of Russia, Reuters reported.

The resolution was supported by 143 out of a total of 193 countries.

The text also expresses support for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Only 4 countries supported Russia, voting "against" - Syria, Nicaragua, North Korea and Belarus. 

Thirty-five countries voted "abstain", including Russia's strategic partner - China, and the rest of the countries did not participate in the vote.  

Ukraine's permanent representative to the UN Serhiy Kislitsa called the vote "amazing" and a "historic moment" and US permanent representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield a "memorable day". EU ambassador to the UN Olof Skog said the adoption of the resolution was "resounding message to Russia that it is and remains isolated".

The resolution proposed by the West is a response to the annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia announced by Russia last month.

Moscow is acting after Kremlin-organized "referendums" that Ukraine and its allies have dismissed as "fake".

During the two-day debates in New York, many accusations were made against Russia of violating key principles of the UN Charter related to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member countries of the world organization.

Thomas-Greenfield stated that the UN was created on the ruins of World War II with the idea that one country would never again be allowed to take another's territory by force.

The UN General Assembly convenes an emergency meeting on Ukraine

Later, the US permanent representative told journalists that in the eyes of the world and the UN, Ukraine's borders remain unchanged.

"The resolution sends an extremely important signal to Moscow and to everyone: it doesn't matter if you are a big or small, rich or poor, old or new country. If you are part of the UN, your borders are yours and are protected by international law, and they cannot to be redrawn by anyone else with power," Thomas-Greenfield said. 

It surprised support from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Brazil.

Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, urged countries to vote against the resolution, calling it a "politicized and openly provocative document" and denouncing its sponsors as "unscrupulous Western blackmailers".

He expressed his regret that the vote was not secret, as Russia had insisted. 

The UN General Assembly rejected Russia's proposal

Nebenzya repeated Moscow's claims that the referendums were valid and said that "the population of these areas does not want to return to Ukraine."

The four countries that joined Russia in voting against were North Korea, Belarus, Syria and Nicaragua.

Among the 35 countries that abstained were 19 African countries.

China, India, Pakistan and Cuba also voted "abstain", adds BTA.