UN Security Council To Vote On Friday For Russia To Take Action On Ukraine

General view of the meeting of the UN Security Council on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, March 14, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

UNITED NATIONS, March 16 – The UN Security Council is due to vote Friday on a Russian-drafted appeal for access to assistance and protection for civilians in Ukraine, but diplomats say the measure is doomed to fail because it does not push for a cessation of hostilities. actions or withdrawal of Russian troops.

The draft resolution, seen by Reuters, also does not mention responsibility and does not recognize the fact of Russia’s invasion of a neighboring country.

Britain’s UN representative Barbara Woodward called it “blatant omissions” in a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday and said Russia was “playing the game”. She said the UK would not vote on Russia’s draft text.

“Their resolution calls on the parties to respect international humanitarian law, but overlooks the fact that Russia is committing war crimes,” she said. “It is their invasion and their actions that are leading to this unfolding humanitarian crisis.”

A Security Council resolution requires at least nine votes and no veto from Russia, China, Britain, France or the US. Diplomats said the Russian move would fail because most of the 15 members would likely abstain.

“We are not going to trust Russia’s attempts to evade responsibility and blame for its unprovoked aggression,” said Olivia Dalton, a representative of the US mission to the UN.

Russia put forward the text after France and Mexico withdrew their proposal for a Council resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, as they said Moscow would veto it. Instead, they plan to put it to a vote in the 193-member General Assembly, where no country has veto power.

“We said from the very beginning that we would be ready to adopt a humanitarian resolution on the situation in Ukraine, provided that it was not a disguise to again blame and disgrace Russia,” Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, said on Tuesday.

The Russian-drafted Security Council resolution “demands the full protection of civilians, including humanitarian personnel and those in vulnerable situations, including women and children.” It also calls for safe and unhindered access to assistance and for the safe exit of people from Ukraine.

Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Moscow of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Thousands of people were killed during the Russian invasion, which began on February 24, and several million were displaced.

Russia called its military actions in Ukraine a “special operation”. He denies attacks on civilians and says his air strikes, ground and sea operations are aimed at destroying Ukraine’s military infrastructure.

The UN Security Council will also meet on Thursday to brief on Ukraine, at the request of the US, Albania, Britain, France, Ireland and Norway, diplomats said.

Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Edited by William McLean and Tim Achmann

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