Russia vetoed a United States draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday. The resolution condemned the annexation of the four Ukrainian territories into the Russian Federation.
China and India, Russia’s allies, abstained from voting on the resolution. Brazil and Gabon also chose not to vote.
US efforts to single out Russia
United States ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield introduced the resolution to the Security Council meeting on Friday that urged member states not to recognize any changes in Ukraine’s territories and compel Russia to withdraw its troops, which would end Ukraine’s invasion that was initiated on February 24.
The US and Albania both sponsored the resolution that called the referendums, held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, “illegal.” Countries that voted in favor of the resolution are Albania, Britain, France, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, the UAE, and the USA.
Addressing the UNSC, Thomas-Greenfield said, “Not a single country voted with Russia. Not one.” He also said that not voting on the resolution would not defend Russia.
Putin signs accession treaties
The resolution came within hours of Russian President Vladimir Putin signing the accession treaties on Friday. The treaties formalize the union of the two Donbass republics, Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, in the Russian Federation. Referendums to accede to Russia were successfully held in the four regions.
Heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, as well as the leaders of Kherson and Zaporozhye, Vladimir Saldo and Evgeny Balitsky, signed the documents together with Putin.
The signing of the treaties took place after Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics made requests and the other two regions, Kherson and Zaporozhye, declared independence and wanted to join Russia. These territories held referendums between September 23 and 27, which saw major support for the move, according to results announced earlier this week by local election committees.
The UNSC meeting had convened to discuss the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Talking about the issue, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia claimed that the US would benefit from this. “Russia wants a comprehensive investigation into the incident,” he added.
