Not surprisingly, Russia used its veto power on Friday, September 30, to prevent the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution condemning its annexation of four Ukrainian territories. The text will now be submitted to the General Assembly where all Member States have one vote.
Despite Russia’s veto, the resolution garnered ten votes in favor and four countries abstained – China, India, Brazil and Gabon – a result Westerners described as evidence of Russia’s isolation.
The draft text seen by Agence France-Presse had been compiled ahead of Friday’s signing by Russian President Vladimir Putin of the annexation documents for the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. This draft resolution condemns “the so-called illegal referendum” who can’t have “no validity” also not “to be the basis for changing the status of these areas”.
“Pseudo-annexation”
Prepared by the United States and Albania, it calls for all other States and organizations “to disown pseudo annexation” from the four regions and also demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops “immediately, completely and unconditionally”.
“You intentionally forced us to use our veto so that you could make a lyrical statement about the fact that we abused our rights”accused Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, of denouncing a “openly hostile acts by the West”.
While Russia’s veto is unquestionable, eyes are on China, which is officially neutral but is sometimes accused by the West of being too conciliatory with Russia. As in February, the day after Russia invaded Ukraine, China abstained on Friday. “Any action by the Security Council should promote improvement of the situation and resolution of the crisis, rather than intensifying conflict and exacerbating confrontation.”Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun comments, reiterating that Beijing supports sovereignty and territorial integrity. “From all countries”.
“Russia is more alone than ever”, estimates the French ambassador Nicolas de Riviere. Alone, of course, but “not as quiet as the West would like”, nuanced Richard Gowan, analyst at the NGO International Crisis Group. If the most important thing is for China to abstain, “number of abstentions indicates that the observed fatigue regarding Ukraine is still at a high level”he added.
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Westerners will now turn to the General Assembly, which will decide in the coming days. “We went to the General Assembly, where each country has one vote. The nations of the world will make it clear that it is illegal and unacceptable to try to redraw the borders of another country by force.”launched the American ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
This future vote in the General Assembly, in which none of the 193 member states has a veto power, will allow a more precise assessment of Russia’s isolation level, while some developing countries are upset that the West is focusing all its attention on Ukraine. .
In the spring, the General Assembly voted for three resolutions regarding the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the third of which in late April had resulted in the erosion of international unity vis–vis Moscow.
As of March 2, during the historic first ballot, 141 countries had condemned the Russian invasion, five countries had voted against (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea) and 35 had abstained.
On March 24, the Assembly called for unhindered humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Ukraine: a vote that garnered 140 votes in favor, five against (equal) and 38 abstentions.
But as of April 7, only 93 countries supported Russia’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council, 24 against it and 58 abstaining.
The mystery of Nord Stream remains
After session on “referendum” annexation, the Council discussed, at Russia’s request, four leaks affecting the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea. While the origin and maker of the explosion remains a mystery, Russia, to which all eyes are drawn, has once again suggested the involvement of the United States, which has denied responsibility.
As for the UN, that “unable to verify or confirm reported details”said Navid Hanif, Deputy Secretary General for Economic Development, noting the risk of leakage to energy and environmental markets.
