Russia on Friday vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, while China refrained from the vote – a move Western countries saw as a show of Russia’s international isolation. seen as a victory.
The United Arab Emirates and India also refrained from voting on the text prepared by the US. The remaining 11 council members voted in favor. The draft resolution is now expected to be taken up by the 193-member United Nations General Assembly.
China’s boycott comes just weeks after Beijing and Moscow declared a “no-limits” partnership, backing each other over a standoff over Ukraine and Taiwan, with promises of more cooperation against the West. Is.
After Russia’s veto, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “We stand united behind Ukraine and its people, while a reckless, irresponsible permanent member of the Security Council has tried to attack our neighbor and defend the United Nations and our international system.” misused its power to destroy it.” ,
Diplomats said the UN vote for last-minute talks to win Chinese isolation by the United States and others was delayed by two hours. Russia, along with the United States, China, France and Britain, has veto power on the United Nations Security Council.
The council softened the language in its resolution from “condemnation” to “aggression against Ukraine”, while a reference to Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which deals with sanctions and the authorization of force, was dropped. . With reference to the “President”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine as the UN Security Council met late Wednesday in New York to try and de-escalate escalating tensions.
“Make no mistake. Russia is isolated. It has no support for an invasion of Ukraine,” Britain’s UN ambassador Barbara Woodward told the council after the vote.
The draft Security Council resolution demanded that Russia “immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine” and “immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine to its international level.” But withdraw it within the recognized limits.”
The draft also calls for Russia to reverse the recognition of two separatist states in eastern Ukraine as independent.
India’s UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti told the council, “It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy has been abandoned. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to refrain from this resolution.”
This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.
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