Russia-Ukraine Conflict | UN expected to debate draft resolutions on humanitarian crisis

The United Nations (UN) will on Wednesday begin taking up three draft resolutions relating to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Ukraine.

The General Assembly (GA) convenes on Wednesday in a resumption of its Special Emergency session.

The session will begin debate on two competing drafts, one that will be introduced by Ukraine and drafted by a cross-regional group of more than two-dozen countries and that holds Russia responsible for the humanitarian situation.

South Africa will follow and will introduce a separate draft that makes no mention of Russia.

A third draft drafted by Russia will be put to a vote in the Security Council while the GA process unfolds.

The Russian draft in the Security Council was held back from a vote last Friday due to a lack of support but has been put back on the agenda even though it’s unlikely to draw a minimum of 9 votes for passage in the 15-member council.

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In the General Assembly, a more drawn-out process as countries begins debate on the two competing drafts with Pretoria calling for a humanitarian resolution that removes “political issues” as its draft fails to mention Russia as the cause of the crisis.

The western-backed draft will be introduced by Ukraine that urged member states overnight to back the draft text that makes clear reference to Russia’s responsibility in Ukraine.

Russia introduces its own UNSC resolution on humanitarian situation in Ukraine [15 March 2022]

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