Sawt Falasteen - UN chief condemns Russian 'affront' in Ukraine as assembly meets

"That invasion is an affront to our collective conscience," Guterres said, calling the anniversary "a grim milestone for the people of Ukraine and for the international community."

As fighting continued to rage along the long front inside Ukraine, the General Assembly was to begin debating a motion backed by Kyiv and its allies calling for a "just and lasting peace."

While the measure is not as tough as Ukraine would like, it is hoping that a large majority of UN states will back the non-binding resolution to demonstrate Kyiv has the support of the global community.

Some 60 countries have sponsored the resolution, which stresses "the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

It reaffirms the UN's "commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

It also demands Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine."

- Call for international tribunal -

Ahead of the General Assembly session, Ukraine's first lady told a meeting of top global diplomats at the UN that for real justice, there needs to be an international tribunal to judge Russia for its aggression.

"I think you will agree... regardless of our country or nationality, we have the right not to be killed in our own homes," Olena Zelenska said via video link.

"However, Ukrainians are being killed in front of the whole world for the whole year in their own cities, villages, apartments, hospitals, theaters."

"That's why we call on the United Nations to establish a special tribunal for the crimes of Russian aggression," she said.

- 'Bleak' prospects -

In his opening remarks, Guterres highlighted the impact on the world of Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion of its neighbor.

He noted that it has generated eight million refugees, and hurt global food and energy supplies in countries far away from the war zone.

"As I said from day one, Russia's attack on Ukraine challenges the cornerstone principles and values of our multilateral system," he said.

"While prospects may look bleak today, we know that genuine, lasting peace must be based on the UN Charter and international law. The longer the fighting continues, the more difficult this work will be," he said.

With the new resolution, Kyiv hopes to garner the support of at least as many nations as in October, when 143 countries voted to condemn Russia's declared annexation of several Ukrainian territories.

China, India and more than 30 other countries have abstained during the series of UN votes on Ukraine.

To that end, Ukraine pulled back from having President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace plan inserted into the measure, according to diplomatic sources.

"I think we have come up with a text which really tries to gather the international community, tries to be as cohesive and as positive as possible," said one European diplomat.

One year on, it will also be a message to Russia that "it cannot achieve its objectives through force," the diplomat added, hoping that if Moscow "feels isolated, at a certain point the pressure will be too strong to be resisted."

Yet some countries in the global South express weariness that the North is overly focused on the conflict.

"If Kyiv won't talk about peace, there is a risk that the BRICS countries will start to say Ukraine is the real obstacle to peace," said International Crisis Group analyst Richard Gowan, referring to Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

"That is why the US and EU were keen to get references to a cessation of hostilities in this week's text," he told AFP.

F.Qawasmeh--SF-PST