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Resolution 68/262 of the United Nations General Assembly

Resolution 68/262 of the United Nations General Assembly was passed and adopted on March 27, 2014, by the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea. The non-binding resolution, supported by 100 United Nations Member States, confirmed the commitment of the General Assembly to the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and stressed the cancellation of the 2014 Crimean referendum.

The resolution was introduced by Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, among others. The adoption of this resolution had preceded the unsuccessful efforts of the United Nations Security Council, which convened seven sessions to address the Crimean crisis but ultimately failed to adopt a draft resolution due to Russia's veto. Despite this, 11 nations voted against the resolution, while 58 abstained, and an additional 24 states were absent when the vote was held.

The General Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of all states, including Ukraine. The resolution also underscored the invalidity of the 2014 Crimean referendum, which had been widely criticized as illegitimate by many countries. In a statement, the United Nations emphasized that Cyprus recognized the importance of respecting these fundamental principles.

The crisis in Crimea was part of a broader conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with regional security concerns also at play. The issue has been closely tied to the "Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The resolution's adoption was seen as a significant development in the international community's response to Russia's actions, although it did not provide any concrete measures for enforcement. The General Assembly's decision reflected its commitment to upholding Ukraine's territorial integrity and supporting its sovereignty within internationally recognized borders.