UNITED NATIONS: Russia, exercising its veto power, quashed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning its invasion of Ukraine and calling on Moscow to immediately withdraw all forces.
The vote was 11 in favor, one against, and three abstentions — China, the United Arab Emirates, and India.
Russia, a permanent member of the 15-member Council, is currently serving as its president for the month of February.
The United States, which drafted the resolution and campaigned for it, had known all along that Russia would veto the text. But U.S. officials said that by doing so, Russia would demonstrate its isolation and its disregard for the U.N. charter.
But Russia appeared unfazed. Its Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, thanked the three countries that had abstained from the vote.
In his remarks, the Russian ambassador dismissed as a Western conspiracy the diplomatic efforts to hold it accountable. He denied that Russia had targeted civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and then delivered a jab at the United States for its own military incursions, inferring to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 on the premise that Saddam Hussein was harboring chemical weapons, which turned out to be not true.
“It is difficult for us to compete with the U.S. in terms of invasions,” the Russian ambassador said. “You are in no position to moralize.”
Diplomats said that the U.N. General Assembly would act next week on a resolution condemning Russia’s war on Ukraine. Countries do not have veto power at the General Assembly, but its resolutions are symbolic and not legally binding, as the Security Council’s are.
Speaking to reporters after Friday evening’s Council meeting, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that while the U.N. had today not achieved its primary objective to end war, “we must never give up.”
“We must give peace another chance. Soldiers need to return to their barracks. Leaders need to turn to the path of dialogue and peace,” he said.
And despite growing operational challenges, he assured that the UN is scaling up the delivery of life-saving support on both sides of the line of contact.
Against the backdrop of multiplying humanitarian needs, dying civilians and at least 100,000 Ukrainians reportedly fleeing their homes – with many crossing into neighbouring countries, underlining the regional nature of this growing crisis – Guterres announced the appointment of Amin Awad as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.
A close colleague of Mr. Guterres when he was chief of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, Awad will lead the coordination of all UN efforts, including its humanitarian response, on both sides of the contact line.
“All concerned in this conflict must respect international humanitarian law and guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UN staff and other humanitarians. Especially in a moment like this, it is important to remember that the UN…is tens of thousands of women and men around the world,” he said.
The UN chief outlined the work of the Organization, from feeding the hungry, vaccinating children and promoting development to protecting civilians in peacekeeping operations, mediating conflicts and supporting refugees and migrants, all while “standing, delivering, extending a lifeline of hope.’”
He stressed that although the UN Charter has been challenged in the past, it has “stood firm on the side of peace, security, development, justice, international law and human rights”.
“Time after time, when the international community has rallied together in solidarity, those values have prevailed. They will prevail, independently of what happened today,” the UN chief said.
“We must do everything in our power so that they prevail in Ukraine but they prevail for all humanity,” the Secretary-General added.
Introducing the draft resolution, the US Ambassador, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield,painted a picture of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that was “so bold, so brazen,” that it threatens the international system “as we know it.”
“We have a solemn responsibility not to look away,” she said stressing that Russia must be held accountable, and its forces immediately, completely and unconditionally withdrawn.
“Today we are taking a principled stand in this Council,” Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said. “There is no middle ground,” responsible States do not invade their neighbours.
