Of United Nations Security Council rejected a resolution introduced by Russia to investigate allegations of US involvement in the development of biological weapons in Ukraine. Only the permanent members of the Security Council, Russia and China, voted in favor on Wednesday, while France, the US and Britain voted against. All ten non-permanent members abstained.
Russia called for the “appointment of a commission composed of all members of the Security Council”. the deputy Russian Ambassador to the UN Dmitry Polyansky criticized the result of the vote. This is an expression of the “customary colonial mentality” of Western states. Russia will revisit the issue at the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference in Geneva from 28 November to 16 December.
“No one but China falls for this”
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield responded that the US voted against the resolution because it was based on “disinformation, dishonesty, ill will and a total lack of respect” for the Security Council. “Nobody falls for that except China,” he added.
The United States and Ukraine categorically rejected Russian claims of biological weapons development last week.
Deputy United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo stated that the United Nations was not aware of and had neither the mandate nor the “technical capability” to investigate a biological weapons program in Ukraine.