Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Friday that would condemn allegations that Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions after so-called referendums on joining the Russian Federation.
Was the polls universally dismissed as a ‘hoax’ by Ukraine and Western countries.
The resolution would have denounced “the organization of so-called illegal Russian referendums in areas within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine” and declaring that the referendums “have no legitimacy”.
The resolution had also called on Russia for the “immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders”.
Russia was the only country to oppose the resolution.
Ten countries voted in favor: Albania, France, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Four countries abstained: Brazil, China, Gabon and India.
Speaking before the vote, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield – who introduced the resolution along with her Albanian colleague – said it is in line with the Security Council’s goals of defending sovereignty, protecting territorial integrity and ensuring peace and security.
“We are talking about a country that is a member of the United Nations, a member of the Security Council, that is trying to annex part of another country by force,” said Thomas Greenfield. The results of these sham polls were predetermined in Moscow, and everyone knows this. They were held behind the barrel of Russian guns.”
The results speak for themselves, said Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations.
“The vast majority of those who voted support the integration of these regions into Russia,” he said.
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