Russia vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, while China, India, UAE abstained from the vote, a U.S.-drafted text. The remaining 11 council members have voted in favor.
After Russia cast its veto, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “We are united behind Ukraine and its people, despite a reckless, irresponsible permanent member of the Security Council abusing its power to attack its neighbor and subvert the U.N. and our international system.”
Thanking the Security Council members who did not support the draft, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described it as anti-Russian.
“Your draft resolution is nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard,” Nebenzia said.
The draft Security Council resolution said it deplores Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and demanded Russia to “immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine” and “immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
The draft also demanded that Russia reverse its recognition of two separatist states in eastern Ukraine as an independent.
After the vote, Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward told the council, “Make no mistake. Russia is isolated. It has no support for the invasion of Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, abstaining from voting, India’s U.N. Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti said, “It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons India has chosen to abstain on this resolution.”
(Inputs from Reuters)
