Morocco Abstains from UN Vote on Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Putin Reportedly Grateful

According to some sources, the Russian president has conveyed a message of thanks to the Moroccan authorities through diplomatic channels, reports Maghreb-Intelligence. Neither Morocco nor Russia has officially confirmed this message.

On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that "demands that Russia immediately cease the use of force against Ukraine" in a vote approved by 141 countries. Morocco and 11 other countries did not participate in this vote. The kingdom has also mentioned the reasons justifying its choice. It is a "sovereign decision that cannot be interpreted as a strategic misalignment and can only be analyzed in the light of the two communiqués of the kingdom," explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad in a statement.

"Morocco’s non-participation cannot be the subject of any interpretation with regard to its position of principle concerning the situation between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as reaffirmed in the communiqué of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated February 26, 2022. Indeed, the Kingdom of Morocco continues to follow with concern and concern the evolution of the situation between Ukraine and the Russian Federation," added the Moroccan diplomacy, reaffirming its regret at the "military escalation which has unfortunately, to date, caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, and which has caused human suffering on both sides, all the more so as this situation impacts all the populations and States of the region and beyond."