UNSC RESOLUTION ON RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

Feb. 27, 2022

Russia used its veto powers to block a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning its invasion of Ukraine and demanding an immediate withdrawal of its troops.

About:

  • Eleven out of the 15 permanent and non-permanent members — including the US, UK and France — voted in favour of the resolution, while India, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) chose to abstain.

  • Indian Ambassador T. S. Tirumurti, who abstained, said that “dialogue is the only path forward,” no matter how daunting it might seem, and urged the Council to restore the difficult path forward.

Veto Power?

  • The United Nations Security Council "veto power" is the power of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) to veto any "substantive" resolution.

  • However, a permanent member's abstention or absence does not prevent a draft resolution from being adopted.

  • This veto power does not apply to "procedural" votes, as determined by the permanent members themselves.