The UN General Assembly has a new leader: Baerbock has taken the oath of office

The UN General Assembly has a new leader: Baerbock has taken the oath of office

Chosen as the President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock officially took the oath in New York and began performing the duties of the chair of the 80th session. The ceremony took place on the eve of the opening of the new session, which traditionally lasts from September to September.

As reported by "Ukrinform," Baerbock swore to faithfully perform her duties with full dedication and prudence. She also pledged to act in the interests of the United Nations, without accepting guidance from any government or external source. The procedure took place during the final meeting of the 79th session of the General Assembly.

Baerbock is known for her tough stance on Russian aggression against Ukraine. Even while serving as Germany’s Foreign Minister, she repeatedly condemned the Kremlin’s actions and called on the international community to increase pressure on Moscow. After being elected as the President of the General Assembly, the politician thanked her supporters and stated that she aims to be a fair mediator for all Assembly participants.

Challenges for the New President

Baerbock’s election in June was met with opposition from the aggressor state, Russia, which openly opposed her candidacy. Moscow accused the German politician of bias, but despite this, the majority of member states supported her. For Ukraine, her appointment became a positive signal, as Baerbock has repeatedly emphasized that there can be no true peace without the restoration of territorial integrity.

In April, in an interview with Deutsche Welle, she pointed out the lack of progress on the issue of returning Ukrainian children forcibly taken by Russia. In her view, a state that kidnaps children cannot demonstrate a genuine desire for peace. She also reminded of the need for criminal accountability for war crimes committed on Ukrainian territory.

Position on Russia

Baerbock clearly states that lifting sanctions on Russia is possible only after achieving true peace. She emphasizes that Europe stands for peace without any preconditions and without compromises regarding Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity.

"Reality shows that Putin’s strategy is not peace, but further destruction. Unfortunately, nothing has changed in this regard," Baerbock stated.