Russia vetoes UNSC resolution on Ukraine

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia has vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote.

The United Arab Emirates and India also abstained from the vote on the US-drafted text. The remaining 11 council members voted in favour, Reuters reported.

The draft resolution is now expected to be taken up by the 193-member UN General Assembly.

“We are united behind Ukraine and its people, despite a reckless, irresponsible permanent member of the Security Council abusing its power to attack its neighbour and subvert the UN and our international system,” US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after Russia cast its veto.

Russia is a Security Council veto power, along with the United States, China, France and Britain.

China’s abstention comes just weeks after Beijing and Moscow declared a “no limits” partnership, backing each other over standoffs on Ukraine and Taiwan with a promise to collaborate more against the West.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia thanked the Security Council members who did not support the draft, which he described as anti-Russia.

“Your draft resolution is nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard,” Nebenzia remarked.

There was a rare round of applause in the Security Council chamber after Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya held a moment of silence during his statement to remember those killed.

“I’m not surprised that Russia voted against. Russia is keen on continuing its Nazi-style course of action,” he added.

sa/mud