TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO took a stand in solidarity with the global community against Russia in the Ukraine/Russia crisis, which started with a Russian invasion of Ukraine last week.
The stance came in the form of a yes vote to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution against Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine.
On February 25 the UN Security Council convened an emergency session where it drafted a resolution condemning Russia and demanding that its troops be withdrawn. On Wednesday, 141 of the assembly’s 193 countries voted in support of the resolution. TT as well as all other members of Caricom supported the resolution.
On Wednesday Foreign Affairs Minister Amery Browne reiterated the position of the TT Government in a conversation with the UK Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Vicky Ford, saying Russia’s action was a violation of international laws and threatened the sovereignty of Ukraine.
“Trinidad and Tobago stands in solidarity with the global community and will lend its voice to this situation that threatens international peace and security,” Browne said in the release.
In a conversation with Newsday on Wednesday Browne said TT has received thanks and congratulations for its position from the UK, Canada, the US, Germany and the EU.
“TT has made its position clear on the military actions being taken by the Russian Federation and we have made our views heard at all the appropriate and relevant fora,” Browne said. “The position of TT is principled and founded on full respect for the UN Charter and international law.”
Russia was among five countries that voted against the resolution, joined by Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), the Syrian Arab Republic and Eritrea.
A total of 35 countries abstained. Among them were Cuba, Iran, Iraq, India and Pakistan.
Venezuela was among several other countries that did not vote, but it made its position clear on Tuesday, when President Maduro tweeted about a conversation with Putin.
“I had a telephone conversation with the president, Vladimir Putin. I ratified Venezuela’s condemnation of the destabilising actions of NATO. I reiterated the firm disposition in favour of understanding and dialogue as a way to preserve peace,” Maduro said.
US Embassy: the world is watching
In responds to questions sent to it, the US Embassy said measures launched against Russia in co-ordination with allies and partners around the world wee specifically designed to hurt Russia and force it to depend on other countries that cannot replicate the financial and technological strengths of Western markets.
“We have intentionally scoped our sanctions measures to maximise pain on the Russian economy and minimise any spillover to the US, our allies and partners,” said the US Embassy in Port of Spain. “To be clear, our sanctions are not designed to disrupt the flow of energy from Russia.”
Tthe embassy said countries that try to evade measures or work around those measures will experience “the consequences of those actions.”
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