Germany's Baerbock elected as UN General Assembly head

Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected president of the UN General Assembly after a vote on Monday in New York.

She received 167 votes in a secret ballot, with Chairman Philemon Yang making the announcement on Monday.

Baerbock was the only candidate to run and expressed her gratitude for her election, saying she wanted to be an "honest broker" for the General Assembly.

Baerbock is due to be inaugurated for the role, which is largely ceremonial, on September 9, shortly before the General Assembly's annual meeting. Her term as president will last for one year.

She is the fifth woman to hold the post since the UN was founded almost 80 years ago. All 193 UN member states are represented in the General Assembly.Newly-elected UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock hopes to oversee some big changes in her new role.

DW's Ines Pohl sat down with Baerbock in New York City to outline her plans to reform the organization.

Ukrainian UN envoy hopeful of Baerbock's influence to stop war

The Ukrainian representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, has told DW that he is hopeful new UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock will be able to use new position to bring an end to the war.

"Her record as a foreign minister, personally contributing to the support of Ukraine, also saw Germany as the second biggest, ally of Ukraine in this war," Melnyk told DW.

"I am confident that Annalena Baerbock will pursue the goal of consolidating democratic forces [in Ukraine], strengthening the United Nations, but also helping Ukraine to defend our independence."

Russia has repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions to condemn the it attempt to annex parts of Ukraine. However, Melnyk is hopeful that with Baerbock at the helm, she could help ensure the UN charter is upheld.

"We think that the General Assembly could play a special role," he added. "Especially in this historic moment. We believed that Annalena Baerbock would be capable to consolidate the support within this important democratic organ.

"We are happy to have a president that understands why the UN charter and why international law should be protected and upheld to to stop the war. This war shall be finished on the principle of UN charter, which is territorial integrity and sovereignty."