Explainer | ‘Uniting for Peace’: What to expect from Asia at the UN General Assembly emergency session on Ukraine

China and India are mulling their options in condemning Russia’s aggression while considering the long-term costs of their response

Long-standing US allies Japan, South Korea and Australia are expected to take a firmer stance against Russia

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The United Nations Security Council meets at the UN Headquarters in New York City on February 27, 2022. The United Nations Security Council voted Sunday to hold a rare emergency special session of the General Assembly to discuss Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:35pm, 28 Feb 2022Updated: 1:22pm, 9 Mar 2022

With no sign of de-escalation on the fifth day of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly will convene later on Monday for a rare special emergency session.

The session will involve the participation of all 193 member states. Only 10 such emergency sessions have been held since the UN was formed after World War II.

Russia last week used its veto to block a hastily put together Western-backed Security Council resolution that condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Then, on Sunday, the Security Council took another vote to allow the General Assembly to convene and discuss the matter.

A meeting of the UN Security Council on the Ukraine crisis on February 17, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Unlike the Security Council, which can issue legally binding resolutions, authorise sanctions or military operations, the General Assembly has no real power as its decisions are not binding on member states.

Still UN observers say debate at the General Assembly will put across to Russia that a majority of the international community, including some nations that it has traditional close ties with, do not view its aggression as acceptable.

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