On Friday, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning its aggression against Ukraine, isolated in a vote with 11 votes in favor and three abstentions, including China.
The dispute is a resolution co-sponsored by the United States and Albania condemning Russia “in the strongest terms” for its “aggression against Ukraine” and requiring it to withdraw its forces “immediately” from that neighboring country.
The text, which was co-sponsored by dozens of countries around the world, was supported by 11 of the 15 members of the Security Council, three countries abstained and one voted against, from Russia.
As one of the five permanent members of the Security Council (P5), Russia has veto power over votes.
China, India and the UAE were among the countries that abstained.
Brazil, one of the countries whose vote was in doubt, ended up supporting the resolution after insisting during the negotiations that a balance should be maintained allowing condemnation of Russian actions, but without closing the door to the possibility of negotiations to stop the conflict.
Before the vote, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Kiseltsya, considered the vote to be a “moment of truth” and said he knew “who is on the right side”.
While the US and other supporters of the resolution expected the resolution not to pass, given the expected Russian veto, they argued that the vote would highlight Moscow’s international isolation.
The hall where the Security Council met in New York, despite the outcome, became a place for international pressure on Russia and for determining the positions of governments.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield responded to the resolution’s failure by emphasizing that it was no surprise and insisting that Russia would ultimately be held accountable for its actions.
The US diplomat insisted, “Russia can veto this resolution, but it cannot veto our voices, it cannot veto the truth, it cannot veto the Ukrainian people.”
“History will judge us by actions or by our lack of them,” he added.
It is now expected, after the Russian veto, that the draft resolution will be submitted to the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly.
After months of tensions, Russia launched, on Thursday, a military attack in Ukraine, with ground forces and bombing targets in several cities, which has already caused the deaths of at least 120 people, including civilians, and hundreds of wounded in Ukrainian territory, according to Kiev. The United Nations reported 100,000 displaced people on the first day of the fighting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the “special military operation” in Ukraine was aimed at “disarming and discrediting” its neighbor, and that it was the only way for the country to defend itself. From its “consequences” and “importance”.
The international community generally condemned the attack and pushed for emergency meetings of a number of governments, including the Portuguese, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Security Council, with the approval of the sanctions. collectively against Russia.
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