UN Security Council Resolution On Ukraine Draft Withdraws Before Discussion: Overshadowed By Rejection, UK And US Say No

Illustration of a United Nations Security Council meeting. (Wikimedia Commons/UNSomalia)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a vote on a Russia-drafted call for aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine, but diplomats say the move will fail because it does not encourage an end to fighting or a withdrawal of Russian troops.

The draft resolution, seen by Reuters, also does not address accountability or acknowledge Russia's invasion of its neighbour.

British Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward described this as a "flagrant omission" in a video posted on Twitter on Tuesday, saying Russia was playing a game. He said Britain would not vote for the Russian text draft.

"Their resolution calls for the parties to respect international humanitarian law, but ignores the fact that Russia committed war crimes," he said.

"It is their invasion and actions that are driving this ongoing humanitarian crisis," he said.

A Security Council resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, Britain, France or the United States for adoption. Diplomats say Russia's move will fail as most of the 15 members are likely to abstain.

"We will not place any trust in Russia's efforts to evade accountability, responsibility and blame for their unwarranted aggression," said Olivia Dalton, spokeswoman for the US mission to the United Nations.

Russia submitted the text after France and Mexico withdrew their own push for a council resolution on Ukraine's humanitarian situation because they said it would be vetoed by Moscow.

They instead plan to put it to a vote in the 193-member General Assembly, in which no country has a veto.

"We said from the start that we would be ready to adopt a humanitarian resolution on the situation in Ukraine, provided this is not a disguise to blame and humiliate Russia again," Russia's envoy to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said.

The Russian-drafted Security Council resolution "demands that civilians, including humanitarian personnel and persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children are fully protected." It also calls for safe and unhindered access to aid and for the safe passage of people out of Ukraine.

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Moscow of attacking civilians indiscriminately. Thousands of people have died during Russia's invasion, which began on February 24, while more than three million have been displaced.

It is known, Russia calls its military action in Ukraine as a special military operation. He denies attacking civilians and says the air, land and sea strikes are meant to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure.

The UN Security Council will also meet on Thursday to be briefed on Ukraine, diplomats said, at the request of the United States, Albania, Britain, France, Ireland and Norway.