Tag: Ukraine

  • UN General Assembly Rebuke Russia’s Invasion on Ukraine, Demands Immediate Withdrawal

    UN General Assembly Rebuke Russia’s Invasion on Ukraine, Demands Immediate Withdrawal

    The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that “demands” Russia “immediately” withdraw from Ukraine, in a powerful rebuke of Moscow’s invasion by a vast majority of the world’s nations.

    After more than two days of extraordinary debate which saw the Ukrainian ambassador accuse Russia of genocide, 141 out of 193 member states voted for the non-binding resolution.

    China was among the 35 countries which abstained, while just five — Eritrea, North Korea, Syria, Belarus and of course Russia — voted against it.

    The resolution “deplores” the invasion of Ukraine “in the strongest terms” and condemns President Vladimir Putin’s decision to put his nuclear forces on alert.

    The vote had been touted by diplomats as a bellwether of democracy in a world where autocracy is on the rise in countries from Myanmar to Venezuela, and came as Putin’s forces bear down on Kyiv while terrified Ukrainians flee.

    “They have come to deprive Ukraine of the very right to exist,” Ukraine’s ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Assembly ahead of the vote.

    “It’s already clear that the goal of Russia is not an occupation only. It is genocide.”

    Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Moscow has pleaded “self-defense” under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

    But that has been roundly rejected by Western countries who accuse Moscow of violating Article 2 of the Charter, requiring UN members to refrain from the threat or use of force to resolve a crisis.

    The text of the resolution — led by European countries in coordination with Ukraine — has undergone numerous changes in recent days.

    It no longer “condemns” the invasion as initially expected, but instead “deplores in the strongest terms the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.”

    – ‘Who will be next?’ –
    It also makes clear the United Nations is “condemning” Putin’s decision to put his nuclear forces on alert, a move that ignited an immediate outcry from the West.

    Nearly every General Assembly speaker unreservedly condemned the war and the risks of military escalation.

    “If the United Nations has any purpose, it is to prevent war,” the US ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said during her speech on Wednesday.

    She accused Russia of “preparing to increase the brutality of its campaign.”

    “We’ve seen videos of Russian forces moving exceptionally lethal weaponry into Ukraine, which has no place on the battlefield that includes cluster munitions and vacuum bombs, which are banned under the Geneva Convention,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

    Russia’s ally Belarus offered a staunch defense of the invasion, however.

    Ambassador Valentin Rybakov blasted sanctions imposed by the West on Russia as “the worst example of economic and financial terrorism.”

    And he followed other Russian allies such as Syria in condemning the “double standards” of Western nations who have invaded countries including Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan in recent decades.

    Other speakers cited fears of a domino effect should Ukraine fall to Russia. Colombia railed against any return to “empire,” while Albania wondered: “Who will be next?”

    From the Arab world it was Kuwait, itself the victim of an invasion by Iraq in 1990, whose denunciation of Moscow was the most explicit, with the rest of the Middle East remaining in the background.

    – China, India abstain –
    Japan and New Zealand led condemnation from Asia, but the continent’s giants — China, India and Pakistan — all abstained. During the debate Beijing had stressed the world had “nothing to gain” from a new Cold War.

    On the meeting’s sidelines, Washington has taken aim at Russians working at the United Nations, leveling accusations of espionage and demanding expulsions.

    US President Joe Biden asserted Tuesday in his State of the Union address that Putin had underestimated the response to the invasion.

    “He rejected efforts at diplomacy… And, he thought he could divide us here at home,” Biden said.

    “Putin was wrong. We were ready.”

    AFP

  • Buhari Approves $8.5m For Evacuation Of Nigerians In Ukraine

    Buhari Approves $8.5m For Evacuation Of Nigerians In Ukraine

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved $8.5m dollars to the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Humanitarian, Disaster Management, and Social Development, towards the evacuation of over 5,000 (registered and unregistered) Nigerians stranded in Ukraine.

    This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada.

    The minister told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that three aircraft would be dispatched to four countries.

    According to him, the countries where the pickup flights would be headed include – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.

    Two flights from Air Peace and one from Max Air are expected to carry out the evacuation exercise.

    Mr Dada said all agencies are fully resourced to ensure that aircraft leave on Wednesday to begin the evacuation. They noted that the flights will embark on a number of shifts until the process is complete.

  • FIFA, UEFA Suspends Russian Teams Over Ukraine Invasion

    FIFA, UEFA Suspends Russian Teams Over Ukraine Invasion

    FIFA and UEFA have suspended football teams from Russia indefinitely in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine that has left at least 240 civilian casualties.

    The decision was taken on Monday by the Bureau of FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA following the initial decisions adopted by the bodies.

    A statement to this effect obtained by Vanguard from FIFA’s website reads, “Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which decisions envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.

    “These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.

    “Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”

    FIFA had earlier refused to suspend Russia, rather limiting it to just the ban of international matches from being played in the country and the use of flag or anthem of Russia. It also said Russia would have to compete in international football under the name “Football Union of Russia (RFU)”.

    With this development, teams competing in European competitions will automatically lose their places and the senior men’s national team of Russia will no longer be able to compete for a place at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

    Football federations of Poland, Czech Republic and Sweden had written a joint statement to FIFA saying they will not honour fixtures against Russia in their Path B World Cup qualifying play-off games.

  • Evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine begins Wednesday as Gbajabiamila Meets Minister

    Evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine begins Wednesday as Gbajabiamila Meets Minister

    The House Representatives said on Monday that it would give every needed support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin the evacuation of Nigerians back from Ukraine.

    The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, again re-enforced the position of the legislature when he invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyeama, to his office in Abuja on Monday for a meeting on the plight of Nigerians caught in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

    The first batch of the air-lifting is now scheduled to take place on Wednesday this week, according to the minister.

    The evacuation, earlier planned for Monday (yesterday), was rescheduled for Wednesday to give enough room for the ministry, the House and the Nigerian foreign missions in Ukraine, Poland and Russia to complete the formalities of moving Nigerians from inside Ukraine to safe borders with neighbouring countries.

    Gbajabiamila, while commending the ministry for the steps taken so far to ensure the safety of Nigerians, the majority of who are students, however, stated that the country must find ways to quicken its response time to emergencies.

    He noted that response mechanisms, including funds, aeroplanes and other equipment, must readily be on standby to respond to life-threatening situations such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and how they affected Nigerians.

    “We must be in a state of readiness at all times. We should have our own planes and necessary funding to respond quickly to such emergencies”, the Speaker stated.

    He stated that measures the National Assembly would take included legislation to address such emergencies and supplementary appropriations among others.

    Gbajabiamila recalled how the House was left with no choice but to pass a resolution on Thursday last week, mandating its Majority Leader, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, and the Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep.Yusuf Buba, to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proceed to Ukraine by the weekend to facilitate the air-lifting of students home.

    He added that this was the last resort as members were bombarded with telephone calls by their constituents, coupled with the viral videos and pictures of Nigerians caught in the conflict, appealing to the Nigerian Government to come to their aid urgently.

    Onyeama, while giving the Speaker a situation report, reassured him that things were under control in Ukraine, as the Federal Government had put necessary arrangements in place to ensure the safe return of Nigerians.

    He disclosed that in the last few days, the ministry in conjunction with the missions had completed formalities for Nigerians to move to safe border points from where they would be transported in buses to the airports in neighbouring countries.

    He listed Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and even Russia, among the countries to be used as exit points.

    The minister, who said there were about 5,600 Nigerian students in Ukraine, added that there were also non-students, some of whom might not have been legally documented.

    He informed Gbajabiamila that working closely with the governments of those countries, the ministry had secured their cooperation to grant access to Nigerians into their territories, preparatory for the evaluation.

    Onyeama addressed reports that Africans, particularly Nigerians, were not allowed to leave Ukraine or granted access into the neighbouring countries, blaming the chaos at some of the borders on “panic” and the fact that so many people were rushing at the time on hearing the sound of bombs and artillery fire.

    “Where we are now is the point of ascertaining the exact number we are dealing with and to agree on the location for the evaluation.

    “We are thinking Bucharest; but all of this is being sorted out and we are constantly working to ensure that everything goes on very smoothly”, the minister added.

    Onyeama also explained that the delay in evacuating Nigerians wasn’t because the government wasn’t ready or didn’t know what to do.

    According to him, “80% to 90%” of countries and people did not believe that Russia would indeed invade Ukraine.

    “I was in touch with our ambassador early enough and he assured us that there was no need for evacuation. The students even said there was no problem at all.

    “Also, the Ukrainian government did not want people to leave, and especially because most of our people are students, who will not be able to go back to Ukraine again, should they leave”, Onyeama further stated.

  • Russia-Ukraine Crisis: 256 Nigerians Have Been Received In Poland, Hungary, Romania – FG

    Russia-Ukraine Crisis: 256 Nigerians Have Been Received In Poland, Hungary, Romania – FG

    The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday said 130 Nigerians have been received by the country’s embassy in Romania.

    In a statement, the ministry explained that it has also provided accommodation for them while arrangements are being made to take them back home.

    “Also, officials at Budapest, Hungary have received and accommodated 74 Nigerians safely, where they are being documented for subsequent travel arrangements back to Nigeria,” the statement, signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, read.

    According to him, another batch of about 200 Nigerians is expected in Budapest later in the day. He also said 52 persons have been received in Warsaw, Poland. Of the number, 23 are being processed at the Polish Government Reception Point at Hala Kijowska.

    “The camp is well organised with beds and beddings, food, heating, clothing, and medicals for evacuees,” the statement added.

    “We assure Nigerians that all hands are on deck and arrangements are being put in place to effectively evacuate our citizens, in safety and dignity.”

    The Federal Government’s recent move was a sequel to the Russian invasion of Ukraine about five days ago. On Sunday, the ministry said the Hungarian and Romanian governments have approved visa-free access to Nigerians coming from the Eastern European nation.

    “For now, movement to the Hungarian Zahony border and Romanian Suceava, Tulcea, Satu Mare County & Maramures borders is advised, as they have approved visa-free access to all Nigerians coming from Ukraine and arrangements for accommodation and feeding before evacuation is arranged,” Aduda said.

    Right To Safe Passage

    On the same day, the presidency described reports of Nigerians being barred from exiting Ukraine as “unfortunate”. It said the government is concerned about the safety and human rights of all Nigerians.

    “We understand the pain and fear that is confronting all people who find themselves in this terrifying place,” presidential aide, Garba Shehu, said in a statement.

    “We also appreciate that those in official positions in security and border management will in most cases be experiencing impossible expectations in a situation they never expected. But, for that reason, it is paramount that everyone is treated with dignity and without favour.

    “All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under UN Convention and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference.”

  • Trump Blames NATO, Biden for Russia-Ukraine war

    Trump Blames NATO, Biden for Russia-Ukraine war

    Donald Trump has blamed US President, Joe Biden and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, over the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Trump speaking at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, blamed Putin’s invasion on Biden’s “weakness”.

    He hailed President Vladimir Putin’s intellect, describing him as smart and not the real problem.

    Massive explosions hit Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Saturday as many scrambled for help in Poland, Romania.

    “As everyone understands, this horrific disaster would never have happened if our election was not rigged,” Trump said.

    Trump blasted NATO for hitting Russia with sanctions rather than hitting them psychologically.

    NATO, Trump said, was “looking the opposite of smart” for hitting Russia with sanctions rather than resolving to “blow (Russia) to pieces at least psychologically.”

    “The problem is not that Putin is smart, which of course he’s smart, but the real problem is that our leaders are so dumb,” the former US President said.

  • Ukraine Forms ‘International Brigade’ To Fight Russia

    Ukraine Forms ‘International Brigade’ To Fight Russia

    President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday urged foreigners to head to Ukrainian embassies worldwide to sign up for an “international brigade” of volunteers to help fight to invade Russian forces.

    “All foreigners wishing to join the resistance against the Russian occupiers and protect global security are invited by the Ukrainian leadership to come to our state and join the ranks of the territorial defence forces,” Zelensky said in a statement.

    “A separate unit is being formed from foreigners — the International Brigade of the territorial defence of Ukraine. This will be a key testimony of your support for our country.”

    Zelensky insisted that Ukrainians were courageous enough to face Russia alone, but said: “This is not just a Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is the beginning of a war against Europe”.

    He said anyone interested in joining should get in contact with the military attache at their nearest Ukrainian embassy.

    The statement comes after Zelensky earlier called on foreigners with combat experience to come to help defend his country.

    Outgunned Ukrainian forces are battling to halt a multi-pronged attack from Russia’s military as it seeks to push deeper into its pro-Western neighbour.

    Ukraine’s defence ministry claimed Sunday that around 4,300 Russian soldiers have been killed since President Vladimir Putin launched the offensive on Thursday.

    There has been no independent verification of that figure and Russia has released no details of military losses.

    But Western security officials say Ukraine’s forces have likely surprised Moscow with their level of resistance and Russia is not making the rapid progress it hoped for.

    AFP

  • FG To Evacuate Nigerians In Ukraine From Poland

    FG To Evacuate Nigerians In Ukraine From Poland

    Nigerians still in Ukraine will now be evacuated through the nation’s embassy in Poland amid a Russian invasion.

    This is according to a notice from the Nigerian Embassy in Poland.

    “In light of the recent happenings in Ukraine, please be advised that for all Nigerians crossing over to Poland would have us waiting for them,” the notice said.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria is making necessary arrangements for the evacuation of those stranded in Ukraine through the Embassy in Warsaw, Poland.

    “Please present this as your destination address with the Border controls 02-953, Kosiarzy 22B, 02-956 Warszawa

    “The Nigerian Embassy staff and along with volunteers will be at the Polish-Ukrainian borders with buses and vans to pick up Nigerians from the crossing border points and locations below:

    Hrebenne-Rawa Ruska
    Szkoła Podstawowa w Lubyczy Królewskiej (zaplecze hali sportowej) ul. Jana III Sobieskiego 5, 22-680 Lubycza Królewska
    Phone: +48-729275316

    Korczowa-Krakowiec
    Świetlica, Korczowa 155, 37-552 Korczowa
    Phone:+48-579201775

    Medyka-Szeginie
    Hala Sportowa – Medyka 285, 37-732 Medyka
    Phone:+48-729242516

    Budomierz-Hurszew
    Szkoła Podstawowa w m. Krowica Sama 183, 37-625 Krowica Sama
    Phone: +48-739493541

  • Ukraine: Russia threatens Finland, Sweden over plans to join NATO

    Ukraine: Russia threatens Finland, Sweden over plans to join NATO

    Amid the military operations in Ukraine, Russia has warned Finland and Sweden against joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.

    The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova said there would be severe military and political consequences if Finland and Sweden opt to join NATO.

    Both countries share borders with Russia in the Arctic Circle.

    Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Zakharova warned that mooting the idea of NATO would be detrimental to both countries.

    “Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences.

    “We regard the Finnish government’s commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe,” Zakharova said.

    The decision of Ukraine to join NATO is believed to be responsible for Russia’s attack.

    Russian President, Vladimir Putin is against Ukraine joining NATO.

  • Russia vs Ukraine: Putin Ready To Negotiate Ukraine

    Russia vs Ukraine: Putin Ready To Negotiate Ukraine

    The Russian President, Vladimir Putin has expressed his readiness to negotiate with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Putin said he is ready to send Russian delegations to the Belarusian capital of Minsk to talk with Ukraine.

    Reports gathered that Putin’s decision follows a request made by Zelenskyy.

    A statement by Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said: “Following Zelensky’s proposal to discuss the neutral status of Ukraine, Putin can send representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Ministry and his administration to negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation.”

    The statement said Minsk was chosen as the venue for the proposed talk.

    Russia has been attacking some towns in Ukraine since Thursday.