UA
FR
DEThe Russian Federation, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, vetoed resolution S/2022/720, which condemns the sham referenda in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and calls not to recognise any changes in Ukrainian borders.
The document also condemned Russia’s organisation of illegal sham referenda within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine and declared those measures invalid. The resolution also called on the Russian Federation to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.”
Ten Security Council members supported the resolution – Albania, France, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, and the United States.
Four countries – China, India, Gabon, and Brazil – abstained.
Russia was the only state that opposed the resolution.
A minimum of nine votes of the Security Council members without a veto of its permanent members would be sufficient for the adoption of the resolution.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his position on Russia’s attempted annexation of the territory of Ukraine in his official statement. He condemned such actions, noting that the Kremlin is resorting to dangerous escalation.
“The UN Charter is clear. Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the UN Charter and international law. Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned. It cannot be reconciled with the international legal framework,” the UN Secretary-General stressed.
According to him, Russia stands against everything the international community is meant to stand for, and any decision by Russia to go forward will further jeopardise the prospects for peace.
Guterres underscored that the position of the United Nations remained fully committed “to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.”
Bohdan Marusyak
