World opinion shifts against Putin as Ukraine worries grow

We all tried to prevent this conflict. We could not, but we must not fail to hold Russia accountable.

Olta Xhacka, Albanian foreign

minister

The tide of international opinion appears to be decisively shifting against Russia, as a number of nonaligned countries are joining the United States and its allies in condemning Moscow’s war in Ukraine and its threats to the principles of the international rulesbased order.

Western officials have repeatedly said that Russia has become isolated since invading Ukraine in February. Until recently, though, that was largely wishful thinking. But this week, much of the international community spoke out against the conflict in a rare display of unity at the often fractured United Nations.

The tide had already appeared to be turning against Putin even before this week’s UN speeches.

Chinese and Indian leaders were critical of the war at a high-level summit last week in Uzbekistan.

Numerous world leaders used their speeches at the general assembly to denounce Russia’s war. That trend continued at the usually deeply divided UN Security Council, where, one-by-one, virtually all of the 15 council members served up harsh criticism of Russia — a council member — for aggravating several already severe global crises and imperiling the foundations of the world body.

The apparent shift in opinion offers some hope to Ukraine and its Western allies that increasing isolation will add pressure on Putin to negotiate a peace. But few are unduly optimistic. Putin has staked his legacy on the Ukraine war and few expect him to back down.

Still, it was striking to hear Russia’s nominal friends such as China and India, following up on last week’s remarks, speak of grave concerns they have about the conflict and its impact on global food and energy shortages as well as threats to the concepts of sovereignty and territorial integrity that are enshrined in the UN Charter.

Only one country, Belarus, a noncouncil member and Russia ally that was invited to participate, spoke in support of Russia, but also called for a quick end to the fighting, which it called a “tragedy”.

“We hear a lot about the divisions among countries at the United Nations,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “But recently, what’s striking is the remarkable unity among member states when it comes to Russia’s war on Ukraine.”

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jayashankar said “the trajectory of the Ukraine conflict is a matter of a profound concern for the international community”.

He called for accountability for atrocities and abuses committed in Ukraine.

And Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franca said immediate efforts to end the war were critical. “The continuation of the hostilities endangers the lives of innocent civilians and jeopardises the food and energy security of millions of families in other regions, especially in developing countries,” he said. “The risks of escalation arising for the current dynamics of the conflict are simply too great, and its consequences for the world order unpredictable.”

Foreign ministers and top officials from Albania, Britain, France, Ireland, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico and Norway delivered similar rebukes.

“Russia’s actions are blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations,” said Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka. “We all tried to prevent this conflict. We could not, but we must not fail to hold Russia accountable.”

Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard called the invasion a “flagrant breach of international law” and Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said: “If we fail to hold Russia accountable we send a message to large countries that they can prey on their neighbours with impunity.”