United Nations votes to condemn Russia over invasion of Ukraine

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning Russia for invading Ukraine, and ordered the Kremlin to a ceasefire and to withdraw its military.

The resolution passed during a rare emergency session with the support of 141 of the assembly's 193 members, Reuters reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine last week. The State Emergency Services of Ukraine claimed that more than 2,000 civilians have died so far, but the U.N. human rights office has counted less than 150 deaths while admitting that the real number is far higher, the Associated Press reported.

Russia was joined by its ally Belarus, from where some Russian troops started their invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is rumored to be preparing to deploy troops of its own to Ukraine in support of Russia. Eritrea, North Korea and Syria, all countries with documented human rights violations, voted against the resolution as well, according to Reuters. China, however, abstained from voting, along with 34 other members.  

The resolution is non-binding, but serves as a symbolic victory for Ukraine and adds to Russia's international isolation.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters after the resolution passed that "as 141 member states of the United Nations know, more is at stake even than the conflict in Ukraine itself. This is a threat to the security of Europe and the entire rules-based order."