Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations,, thanked Singapore in a tweet for the support it has given his country amid the ongoing Russian invasion of his country.
“Majulah Singapura,” said Mr Sergiy Kyslytsya, who posted a photo of himself standing in front of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations in New York, lit up in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
‘Majulah Singapura' – ‘Onward Singapore' and only Onward!!! Amazing display of solidarity by @SingaporeUN with Ukraine! And we are many in @UN to defend the Charter, to make the voice of UNGA heard, to stop the war in Ukraine. It’s a defining for the UN! United we vote yea! pic.twitter.com/o1Z077kLBC
— Sergiy Kyslytsya 🇺🇦 (@SergiyKyslytsya) March 2, 2022
Since Feb 24, when Russia launched a military offensive against Ukraine, Russian forces have taken to launching missiles across several locations, including Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
The invasion has sparked widespread global opposition and spurred many countries and international bodies to impose sanctions against the invader, causing Russia’s fourth financial crisis in 25 years.
In Singapore, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament on Monday (Feb 28) that the county would impose unilateral sanctions on Russia.
He called the attack “an unprovoked military invasion of a sovereign state.”
“We will impose export controls on items that can be used directly as weapons in Ukraine to inflict harm or to subjugate the Ukrainians. We will also block certain Russian banks and financial transactions connected to Russia,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
On Wednesday (Mar 2) a motion during an emergency session at the United Nations General Assembly demanding that Russia withdraw its forces was backed by 141 countries, including Singapore.
“Singapore voted YES ✅ “ tweeted Mr Burhan Gafoor, Singapore’s ambassador to the UN.
Singapore voted YES ✅
A resounding vote at the United Nations for international law and for peace. It is time to stop the violence. @SingaporeUN #UkraineInvasion pic.twitter.com/NMkEeoJKoW— Burhan Gafoor (@BurhanGafoor) March 2, 2022
Only five countries voted against the motion, and 35 nations abstained.
A two-thirds majority is required for UNGA motions to be approved, which Wednesday’s votes easily attained in the first UN General Assembly emergency session to be held since 1997.
Singapore was one of the first countries in South East Asia to have voiced support publicly for Ukraine, an action which has earned the Republic praise.
Sebastian Strangio, Southeast Asia editor of The Diplomat, wrote: “Singapore should be applauded for taking a principled stance on Russian action, which contrasts so starkly with the prevarications of its Southeast Asian neighbors. As the situation in Ukraine stands, the city-state is likely to be not just the first but also the only Asean member-state to impose sanctions on Russia over its aggression in Eastern Europe,”
On Thursday (Mar 3) in Parliament, Dr Balakrishnan gave an update on the Singaporean nationals still in Ukraine, saying that three have been evacuated and six remain.
He said that Asean will be releasing a statement calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine soon.
“We continue to try to get humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. And of course, we continue to monitor the evacuation of Singaporeans in Ukraine,” he said.
/TISG