UN Security Council to vote today on Russian-drafted resolution

NEW YORK • The UN Security Council is due to vote today on a Russian-drafted call for aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine, but diplomats say the measure is set to fail because it does not push for an end to the fighting or withdrawal of Russian troops.

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

Britain's United Nations Ambassador Barbara Woodward described these as "glaring omissions" in a video posted on Twitter on Tuesday. She said Russia was "game playing" and Britain would not vote for the draft text.

"Their resolution calls for parties to respect international humanitarian law, but leaves out the fact that Russia is committing war crimes," she said. "It is their invasion and their actions driving this unfolding humanitarian crisis."

A Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, Britain, France or the United States to be adopted. Diplomats said the Russian move would fail because most of the 15 members would likely abstain.

"We are not going to lend credence to Russia's effort to evade accountability, responsibility and culpability for their unprovoked aggression," said Ms Olivia Dalton, spokesman for the US mission to the UN.

Russia put forward the text after France and Mexico withdrew their push for a council resolution on Ukraine's situation because they said it would have been vetoed by Moscow. They instead plan to put it to a vote in the 193-member General Assembly where no country wields a veto.

"We said from the beginning we would be prepared to adopt a humanitarian resolution on the situation in Ukraine, provided this is not a disguise to blame and shame Russia again," Russia's UN envoy Vasily Nebenzia said on Tuesday.

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

Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Moscow of attacking civilians indiscriminately. Thousands have been killed and several million have been displaced.

Russia has called its military actions in Ukraine a "special operation". It denies attacking civilians and says its air strikes, ground and sea offensive are intended to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure.

REUTERS