Russia vetoes UN draft resolution condemning its attacks on Ukraine

NEW YORK, United States - Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution on Friday which slammed Moscow for its “aggression” against Ukraine. 

Most of the members of council voted in favour of the draft resolution and Russia’s allies - China and India - abstained. As expected, Russia vetoed it.

Rudaw's Majeed Gly asked Jim Kelly, Ireland’s deputy ambassador to the UN, why the draft resolution was voted for if they knew that Russia would veto it. 

“The council has a responsibility for international peace and security, and people need to say where they stand. So, that’s what we have been doing today,” he replied. 

Over 70 countries expressed support for Ukraine at the Security Council’s headquarters

Ukraine’s ambassador to UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, slammed Russia’s actions. 

“It was the first time since the World War Two that the citizens of Ukraine who live in Kyiv had to spend the night in bomb shelters, including in public transportation system in subway. Imagine the scale of war. Ukrainains will fight until the last drop,’ he told reporters. 

Following the UN's failure to pass the draft resolution, its head defended the role of the UN in the world. 

“It is important to remember that [the] UN is not just the chamber behind me. It is tens of thousands of women and men around the world feeding the hungry, vaccinating the children, promoting development, protecting civilians in peacekeeping operations, mediating conflicts, supporting refugees and migrants, advancing human rights,” he said.