In its third emergency meeting on Ukraine in the same week, Russia, which is currently the Chair of the Security Council, vetoed a draft resolution on 25 Feb that would have condemned the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.

Introducing the draft resolution, which her country had helped craft, US Ambassador Linda 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she said stressing that Russia must be held accountable, and its forces immediately, completely and unconditionally withdrawn.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.

Eleven countries voted in favour of the resolution, three countries — China, India and the United Arab Emirates — abstained and Russia vetoed the resolution.

Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said that he would not respond to those who had accused him of abusing his country’s veto power.

Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February, chairs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine. He accused the draft’s sponsors of “spinning tales” about the true situation in Ukraine, including Western allies’ attempts to cover up the fact that they had been flooding the Donbas with weapons.

“You have made Ukraine a pawn in your own game… this resolution is nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move on this Ukrainian chessboard,” he said.

Indeed, the situation is being exploited by political and media outlets, he said, citing examples of the “height of propaganda”, including the misuse of images from Donbas to portray what was being referred to as Russian aggression.”

Speaking to the representatives of France, the UK and US, he said that there was no verifiable confirmation about the death of Ukrainian civilians; that photographs of supposed Russian artillery “is fake”; and that reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure were untrue.

Moreover, with its history of aggressions against other countries, the United States was “in no position to moralize.”

Ukraine Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya asserted that he would not dignify the “diabolical script” read by the Russian Ambassador, which was in fact “a rather detailed application for… a seat in Hell.”

He recalled that during the Security Council’s discussions on the situation in Ukraine earlier in the week, Russia had begun bombing his country and sending forces across the border, including through Belarus.

Therefore, he was not surprised that Russia voted against the text, he said, denouncing the actions of “the Kremlin regime.”

Mr. Kyslytsya asked the Council to remember how many times the Russian Ambassador said that his country would not invade or bomb Ukraine. But after what had happened in recent days, “how can we trust you? You have no idea what is in the mind of your President,” he declared.

The Ukraine Ambassador also noted that according to the rules of procedure, the Russian Ambassador should not have been presiding over a meeting of which his country was the subject.

See below for more details.

Following the vote, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “you can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices. You cannot veto the truth. You cannot veto our principles. You cannot veto the Ukrainian people. You cannot veto the UN Charter, and you will not veto accountability.”

UK Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward described how women and children in Kyiv, pensioners in Odessa and people all over Ukraine are “sheltering from Russia’s onslaught.” She stated that the draft resolution sent “a message to the world that the rules we built together must be defended, because otherwise, who will be next.” Moreover, President Vladimir Putin’s “massive invasion” of Ukraine to remove the Government is “a naked aggression” that must be condemned, Ms. Woodward added.

After the vote, the UK Ambassador pointed out that Russia was the only Council Member to vote against the draft. “Make no mistake, Russia is isolated, it has no support for the invasion of Ukraine,” she said, noting that history would record what had happened today, and that the United Kingdom “stands firmly in support” of the Ukrainian people and would hold Russia accountable for its actions.

China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun stressed that “faced with a highly complex and sensitive situation, the Security Council should make a necessary response,” but added that “such a response should also be taken with great caution.” All actions, he said, “should be truly conducive to defusing the crisis rather than adding fuel to fire” and cautioned that “imposing sanctions in may only lead to more casualties, more property loss, a more complicated and chaotic situation and more difficulties in bridging differences. It may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution.”

Addressing Council members, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said, “you have made Ukraine a pawn in your geopolitical game with no concern whatsoever about the interest of the Ukrainian people. Responsibility for what is transpiring at present lies not only with the Ukrainian government, but it also lies at your feet, ladies and gentlemen. And today’s draft resolution, your draft resolution is nothing other than yet another brutal inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard.”

For his part, Ukraine’s Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said, “last night was the most horrific for Kiev since, just imagine, 1941 when it was attacked by Nazis. Last night was attacked by someone who pretends they are fighting with Neo-Nazism. Therefore, I’m not surprised as Russia voted against. Russia is keen on continuing its Nazi style course of action.”

After the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Amin Awad as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.

More information: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112802