International Desk/

A draft resolution condemning Russia’s annexation of four regions of Ukraine has been rejected by the UN Security Council. However, Russia’s close allies India and China abstained from voting on the resolution. However, Russia vetoed the proposal. Al-Jazeera news

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield presented the proposal at the Security Council meeting yesterday. It called on member states not to recognize any change in the status of Ukraine. At the same time, the proposal calls for forcing Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

The joint US-Albanian resolution condemns the “illegal” referendum held in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine and calls on all countries not to recognize any changes to Ukraine’s borders.
10 member countries of the Security Council voted in favor of this proposal. However, China, Gabon, India and Brazil abstained from voting.

Abstentions do not mean siding with Russia, Thomas-Greenfield said. He told reporters after the meeting that not a single country voted for Russia. Abstentions do not clear Russia’s side.

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, cast the only vote against the resolution. At the time he argued that the territories occupied by Moscow and where fighting was still going on, had voted to become part of Russia.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Kislits, said there was only one vote against the resolution. This proves that Russia is isolated. Testified to Russia’s desperate attempt to deny reality.

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward said Russia had “abused the veto to protect its illegal activities”. Russia’s annexation of four regions of Ukraine has ‘no legal validity’.