US envoy praises Israeli role in marshalling votes against Russia at UN

United States Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides says Israel persuaded other countries to participate in the overwhelming majority that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the United Nation’s General Assembly Wednesday.

“Enormous thanks to Israel for helping rally more members to stand with Ukraine in today’s historic @UN vote. Over 141 votes to hold Russia accountable. Diplomacy matters!” Nides says.

The final tally of the vote on the resolution, entitled “Aggression against Ukraine,” was 141-5 with 35 abstentions.

The only countries that voted against the resolution alongside Russia were Syria, North Korea, Belarus and Eritrea — a powerful indication of the international isolation that Russian President Vladimir Putin faces for invading his country’s smaller neighbor. Among those that abstained were China, India, Iraq, Pakistan and South Africa.

Members vote on a resolution during a special session of the General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters on March 2, 2022 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)