Alwaght- Russia has used its veto at the United Nations Security Council to scuttle a US-sponsored resolution on Friday that would have condemned its annexations of four Ukrainian territories.
Security Council meeting on Friday that called on member states not to recognize any altered status of Ukraine and obliged Russia to withdraw its troops.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Ukraine, received the support of ten UNSC members, while four – China, Brazil, India, and Gabon – abstained.
Earlier, the biggest annexation in Europe since World War II was undertaken when Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russian rule over four regions that make up 15 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
Russian ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia, who raised his hand to indicate the only vote against the resolution, argued the regions, where Moscow has seized territory by force and where fighting still rages, chose to be part of Russia.
“There will be no turning back as today’s draft resolution would try to impose,” Nebenzia told the meeting.
Ukrainian ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya said the single hand raised against the resolution “again testified to Russia’s isolation and his desperate attempts to deny reality in our common commitments, starting from the UN charter”.
The United Kingdom’s envoy, Barbara Woodward, said Russia had “abused its veto to defend its illegal actions” but said the annexations had “no legal effect”.
“It is a fantasy,” she added.
