Fifty countries signed at the United Nations a declaration stressing that “Putin is the aggressor” of Ukraine, and promising to take Russia’s condemnation to the UN General Assembly, after the Russian veto of a Security Council resolution.
“President Putin has chosen to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty. President Putin has chosen to violate international law. President Putin chose to violate the UN Charter. President Putin chose to drop bombs on Kyiv to force families to pack their bags and take shelter in metro stations. President Putin is the aggressor here. There is no middle ground,” reads the joint statement, released after the Russian veto of a UN Security Council resolution on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
As one of the five permanent members of the Security Council (P5), Russia has veto power over votes.
Russia today vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning its aggression against Ukraine, which was isolated in a vote that reached 11 votes in favor and three abstentions, including China.
At issue is a resolution co-sponsored by the United States and Albania, condemning Russia, “in the strongest terms”, for its “aggression against Ukraine” and asking it to “immediately” withdraw its troops from that neighboring country.
The statement released after the veto was read at the UN Security Council by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative to the United Nations, on behalf of 50 countries.
“We believe that we have a particular responsibility to address this violation of the UN Charter because Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council that is guilty. Those of us here today continue to believe in the solemn duty and highest purpose of the Security Council — to prevent conflict and avoid the scourge of war,” the statement read.
“Russia abused its power today to veto our strong resolution. But Russia cannot veto our voices. Russia cannot veto the Ukrainian people. Russia cannot veto its own people by protesting this war in the streets. Russia cannot veto the UN Charter. Russia cannot and will not veto accountability.”
Subscribing countries include Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, among others.
The vetoed resolution held Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine, calling for the protection of civilians, including children, and calling for the facilitation of prompt, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to those in need.
“This resolution was vital and straightforward. Fundamentally, it was a question of whether the countries of the Security Council — charged with maintaining international peace and security — believed in defending the UN Charter. The UN Charter was written with the express purpose of preventing a war like the one that President Putin has just started. This war brought, in its early days, devastating loss of life — and Russia alone is responsible.”
The signatories also promise to take this matter to the UN General Assembly, “where the Russian veto does not apply”.
Source: with agencies
