Security Council Resolution Condemning 'Russian Territorial Annexation' Fails as Russia Vetoes

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning Russia's annexation of occupied territories within Ukraine was vetoed by Russia on the 30th (local time).

The resolution, proposed by the United States and Albania, was put to a vote at the Security Council meeting held at the UN Headquarters in New York that day. However, as expected, Russia, a party involved and a permanent member, exercised its veto power, causing the resolution to fail. Four countries, including China, abstained.

The draft resolution primarily defined the Russian annexation referendums held from the 23rd to the 27th in four occupied territories within Ukraine?the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) in the east, and the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions?as "illegal and invalid." It also urged all UN member states not to recognize the referendum results or any territorial changes in these regions.

With the failure of a legally binding Security Council resolution, it is expected that the United States will pursue a UN General Assembly resolution, where veto power cannot be exercised.