Russia vetoes in the Security Council a resolution condemning the annexed Ukrainian regions

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Russia blames Ukraine for attack on humanitarian convoy in Zaporizhia

Ukraine assures that the people involved in the implementation and development of the referendums will be brought to justice

30 (EUROPE PRESS)

Russia has exercised its veto right in the UN Security Council on Friday to block a resolution, drawn up by the United States and Albania, condemning the annexation of the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia.

Ten countries, including France, the United Kingdom and the United States, have voted in favor of the document. By contrast, four countries have abstained: China, India, Brazil and Gabon, according to the state news agency TASS.

The resolution called on Russia to “immediately and unconditionally reverse its decision”, while demanding that Moscow withdraw “immediately, completely and unconditionally all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders”, including the Ukrainian provinces annexed this Friday.

The text also alluded to “the obligation of all States, under Article 2 of the Charter, to refrain, in their international relations, from resorting to the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the UN”.

RUSSIAN DEFENSE

The permanent ambassador to the UN, Vasili Nebenzia, has defended the holding of the referendums before the Security Council, arguing that they were not only supported by the majority of citizens, but that there were also international observers from countries such as Italy, Germany or Latvia. .

“Washington, which today is the strongest critic of us and shouts about Ukraine’s territorial integrity, recently announced its readiness to use force to protect Taiwan, which is an integral part of China,” he said.

At the same time, he has taken advantage of his rostrum to blame kyiv for the attack on a humanitarian convoy in Zaporojia, which has resulted in at least 26 deaths and 85 injuries this Friday, describing this action as a “brutal crime”.

“The West, according to a well-known scheme, is mobilizing its resources to pressure and twist the arms of all the member states it can reach,” he added regarding the functioning of the Council, calling the elaboration of the resolution.

UKRAINE ASKS FOR JUSTICE

For his part, the Ukrainian representative to the UN, Sergei Kislitsia, has stressed that Moscow is trying to seize territories that it does not even physically control. “People involved in organizing or carrying out these farces will be brought to justice,” he said.

“The only way to make Ukrainians feel safe and under the protection of their state is to raise the Ukrainian flag again in cities and towns in all temporarily occupied regions of Donbas, southern Ukraine and Crimea,” he added.

In this sense, he pointed out that kyiv has “every right to liberate its territories and people.” “The lies have nothing to do with reality, because reality is completely different,” she said, according to the Ukrinform news agency.

CHINA’S ABSTENTION

China, which has been calling for containment from “all parties” involved in the Ukrainian conflict to reduce tensions since February 24, has decided to abstain from the vote, arguing that tensions cannot be exacerbated.

“The facts have shown that political isolation, sanctions and pressure, lit fire and group confrontation will not bring peace, but will only worsen the situation and make the problems more complicated and intractable,” said the representative. Chinese to the United Nations, Zhang Jun.

In this way, he reiterated that Beijing’s position on the Ukraine issue is “consistent and clear.” “As a responsible country, China has always been on the side of peace. We will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and resolving the crisis,” he concluded.

The permanent representative of the United States to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, previously announced on her official Twitter profile that a session would be held at the United Nations Security Council to vote on a resolution condemning the “illegal” annexation of the eastern territories of Ukraine.

“We will continue to seek accountability here in the United Nations. We are moving towards the General Assembly, where each country has one vote, and where the Russian veto does not apply,” he criticized after the vote in another message on the same social network. .

Regarding Russia’s right to veto, the Secretary General of the United Nations said this Friday that a possible expulsion of Russia from the Security Council “is not the right step” given the tensions arising from the invasion of Ukraine and has made stressed that “more diplomacy is needed”.

“I think that the secretary general (António Guterres) has said in the past (…) that expelling countries from a global forum is not really the right step when we are talking about the need for more diplomacy,” said the spokesman for the Secretary General of the UN, Stéphane Dujarric.

Russia’s permanent mission to the UN has criticized Guterres, whom it has accused of maintaining “double standards” for a “direct attack on the fundamental right of self-determination expressed by the population of the Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.