FILE PHOTO: The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo
UNITED NATIONS 鈥� The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted on Monday to reject Russia鈥檚 call for the 193-member body to hold a secret ballot later this week on whether to condemn Moscow鈥檚 move to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine.
The General Assembly decided, with 107 votes in favor, that it would hold a public vote 鈥� not a secret ballot 鈥� on a draft resolution that condemns Russia鈥檚 鈥渋llegal so-called referenda鈥� and the 鈥渁ttempted illegal annexation.鈥� Diplomats said the vote on the resolution would likely be on Wednesday or Thursday.
Only 13 countries on Monday opposed holding a public vote on the draft resolution, another 39 countries abstained and the remaining countries 鈥� including Russia and China 鈥� did not vote.
Russia had argued that Western lobbying meant that 鈥渋t may be very difficult if positions are expressed publicly.鈥� During the meeting on Monday Russia鈥檚 UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia questioned the push to condemn Moscow.
鈥淲hat does this have to do with peace and security or trying to settle conflicts?鈥� said Nebenzia, describing it as 鈥測et one more step towards division and escalation, which I鈥檓 sure is not something the absolute majority of states in this room need.鈥�
READ: India declines to disclose upcoming UN vote on Ukraine
After the UNGA decided on Monday that it would hold a public vote on the draft resolution, Russia immediately tried to get the body to reconsider the issue, but it overwhelmingly failed.
Moscow has moved to annex four partially occupied regions in Ukraine 鈥� Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia 鈥� after staging what it called referendums. Ukraine and allies have denounced the votes as illegal and coercive.
READ: Putin finalizes 鈥榓nnexation鈥� in Ukraine even as troops flee front
The draft UNGA resolution calls on states not to recognize Russia鈥檚 move and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
鈥楾rail of blood鈥�
Ukraine鈥檚 UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya called on countries to defend the principles of the founding UN Charter.
鈥淎 trail of blood is left behind the Russian delegation when it enters the General Assembly and the hall is filled up with the smell of smoldering human flesh. That鈥檚 what we have tolerated in Syria. That鈥檚 what is happening today in Ukraine,鈥� he told the UNGA on Monday.
Russia rained cruise missiles on busy Ukrainian cities on Monday in what the United States called 鈥渉orrific strikes,鈥� killing civilians and knocking out power and heat with its most widespread air attacks since the start of the war more than seven months ago.
READ: Ukraine鈥檚 Zelenskiy: Russia deliberately timed strikes to inflict maximum damage
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed the international community earlier on Monday to make clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 actions were 鈥渃ompletely unacceptable.鈥�
鈥淣ow is the time to speak out in support for Ukraine; it is not the time for abstentions, placating words, or equivocations under claims of neutrality. The core principles of the U.N. Charter are at stake,鈥� Blinken said in a statement.
READ: Ukraine says it has shot down at least 41 Russian missiles
Russia vetoed a similar resolution in the 15-member UN Security Council last month. It has been trying to chip away at its international isolation after nearly three-quarters of the General Assembly reprimanded Moscow and demanded it withdraw its troops within a week of its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
The moves at the United Nations mirror what happened in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine鈥檚 Crimea. At the Security Council Russia vetoed a draft resolution that opposed a referendum on the status of Crimea and urged countries not to recognize it.
The UNGA then adopted a resolution declaring the referendum invalid with 100 votes in favor, 11 against, and 58 formal abstentions, while two dozen countries did not take part.