UN General Assembly Condemns Russia's Annexation of Four Ukrainian Territories

JAKARTA - The United Nations General Assembly strongly condemned Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian territories, as the West pledged more air defense assistance to Kyiv.

In New York, three-quarters of the 193-member General Assembly, 143 countries, voted in favor of a resolution calling Moscow's move illegal, deepening Russia's international isolation on Wednesday.

Only four countries joined Russia in voting against the resolution: Syria, Nicaragua, North Korea and Belarus. Thirty-five countries abstained from the vote, including Russia's strategic partner China, while the rest did not.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Twitter he was "thankful to the 143 countries that supported the historic #UNGA resolution. [Russia's] annexation efforts are useless."

The General Assembly vote, following a veto by Russia last month on a similar resolution in the 15-member Security Council.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the General Assembly ahead of the vote the resolution was "openly politicized and provocative," adding it "could destroy any and all efforts to support a diplomatic solution to the crisis."

Separately in Brussels, Belgium, more than 50 Western countries met to pledge more military aid to Ukraine, especially air defense weapons, following heavy retaliatory strikes this week ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to an explosion on a bridge in Crimea.

Pledges from allies include an announcement by France of plans to send radar and air defense systems to Ukraine in the coming weeks. Canada says it will provide artillery shells and winter clothing among other supplies

At a meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russia's latest attack expresses "hatred and cruelty" since it invaded Ukraine on February 24. At least 26 people have been killed since Monday in Russian missile strikes throughout Ukraine.

Ukraine has shifted momentum since September with tremendous gains, but will need more help, he said.

"We're going to do everything we can to make sure they have what it takes to be effective," Secretary Austin told reporters.