Nigeria has joined 106 other United Nations member states in supporting a resolution backing Ukraine, marking four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
The emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted the resolution titled “Support for Lasting Peace in Ukraine”, with 107 countries voting in favor, 12 against, and 51 abstentions - including the United States.
The resolution calls for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners of war, and the return of civilians forcibly transferred, including children. It also reaffirmed the international community’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.
Russia reacted angrily to the vote. Its delegate dismissed the meeting, accusing European states of fueling the conflict and claiming that the 2014 change of power in Kyiv installed a “neo-Nazi regime.” Moscow stressed that diplomacy remains the preferred path, insisting any settlement must address the conflict’s “root causes” and reflect “new territorial realities.”
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock condemned Russia’s invasion as a breach of European peace. “War must never be the new normal,” she said. “Four years ago, people in Europe woke up in another world because generations like mine have always had the privilege to live a life in peace. But this changed with Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the war a “stain on our collective consciousness” and a continuing threat to regional and international security. He reiterated the need for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire, warning that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. “The longer the war continues, the deadlier it becomes,” he said.
At the UN Security Council debate, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa accused Russia of waging a “war against the rules-based international order,” citing mass civilian attacks, nuclear threats, and the deportation of children as potential war crimes. She stressed that peace requires stronger sanctions, air defense support, binding security guarantees, and full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The vote highlights Nigeria’s alignment with the majority of the international community in demanding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, even as Russia resists external pressure.
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