UN General Assembly declares Dec 4 as int'l day against unilateral coercive measures

The UN General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution to proclaim Dec 4 each year as the International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures (UCMs).

The resolution urges states to refrain from adopting, promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter that impede or undermine the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly plenary meeting, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong called for efforts to put an end to unilateral coercive measures as they undermine the foundation of multilateralism and international rule of law.

Today's world is plagued with rampant unilateralism, the law of the jungle, and raging UCMs, Fu said, adding that as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, the proposal by the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter to establish an International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures carries great significance.

The harm inflicted by unilateral coercive measures on targeted countries is immense.

"In Cuba, the over 60-year-long embargo by the US has caused hundreds of billions of dollars in losses. Unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) and the resulting secondary sanctions and over-compliance reduce the humanitarian exemptions of UN Security Council sanctions to empty words on paper, and cripple humanitarian assistance. The UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on the negative impacts of UCMs on the enjoyment of human rights has pointed out that unilateral sanctions have led to shortages of health care services, medication, and energy in sanctioned countries, with vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly facing particularly dire circumstances," said Fu.

Several Western countries have instrumentalized and weaponized UCMs in an attempt to rationalize and legitimize unilateralism, hegemony, and power politics, the envoy said, stressing that such illegal practices harm others, will eventually backfire, and must surely be cast aside by history.

"Over the past few decades, the General Assembly has adopted over 100 resolutions opposing UCMs, highlighting their negative impact on human rights and urging the US to lift its embargo on Cuba. We call on a few Western countries to heed the just calls of the international community, honor their commitments to upholding the UN Charter and international law, and immediately, unconditionally, and completely lift all UCMs. We also call on member states, the UN system, and other international organizations to jointly oppose such unlawful practices and help targeted countries mitigate their plight," said Fu.

The resolution was adopted with 116 votes in favor, 51 against, and 6 abstentions. Global North countries, including EU states and Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, the United States, voted against it.

The resolution invites all UN member states and observers, organizations of the UN system and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, individuals and other relevant stakeholders to observe the International Day.

It requests the president of the General Assembly to organize, on an annual basis and starting from 2025, an informal plenary meeting of the assembly to commemorate and promote the International Day.

UN General Assembly declares Dec 4 as int'l day against unilateral coercive measures

UN General Assembly declares Dec 4 as int'l day against unilateral coercive measures

UN General Assembly declares Dec 4 as int'l day against unilateral coercive measures

UN General Assembly declares Dec 4 as int'l day against unilateral coercive measures

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine stands ready to agree to security guarantees based on NATO's Article 5 as part of a compromise in the peace process, according to media reports.

"From the very beginning, Ukraine's desire was to join NATO, these are real security guarantees. Some partners from the United States and Europe did not support this direction," the Ukrinform news agency quoted Zelensky.

Zelensky said Article 5-like guarantees from the United States and from European partners, as well as from other countries, "would provide an opportunity to prevent another arrival of Russian troops." He also called it "a compromise on our part."

Zelensky said he was not yet ready to disclose specific details of the proposed security guarantees, saying they would be known in a day or two.

Ukrainian president arrived in Berlin on Sunday afternoon for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders.

German newspaper Bild reported that Zelensky may also hold talks with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump, but did not elaborate further.

According to Ukrinform, Zelensky said the same day that Ukraine must be prepared for any possible developments regarding elections.

"I asked our partners to assist with the security situation if elections are held, and I said that lawmakers should prepare options for how this could be implemented if the situation develops in that direction. They should work out, in the near future, options for holding elections," he said in a statement in response to journalists' questions.

He said he had received "signals" from the United States and President Trump regarding Ukraine's presidential election.

Ukraine says ready to accept NATO-style security guarantees