Russia vetoes the UN Security Council resolution on disarmament in space / Diena

13 out of 15 UNSC members voted for the adoption of the resolution, only China abstained. The representative of Russia called the draft resolution a “dirty show” highlighting weapons of mass destruction, although all weapons in space should be banned.

The draft resolution calls on all countries not to develop and deploy nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in space, as stipulated by the 1967 international treaty, to which both Russia and the United States have joined. All countries are invited to reaffirm their adherence to this treaty.

After the vote, the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, recalled the words of the Kremlin’s master, Vladimir Putin, that Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space. “Today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you already follow the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them? What are you possibly hiding? It’s confusing. And it’s embarrassing,” the ambassador said.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan made similar comments on Wednesday. He reminded that the United States believes that Russia is working on the creation of a new satellite that could carry nuclear weapons. “If Putin had no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space, Russia would not have vetoed this resolution,” said J. Sullivan.

Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasilis Nebenzia, announced at the UN Security Council meeting that the draft resolution submitted by the US and Japan was “limited and politicized, aimed at division between UN Security Council members”. He said that Russia and China are advocating that no weapons of any kind are allowed in space. Unfortunately, the proposal of these two countries was not included in the draft resolution, but without it, the draft resolution is “nothing more than a politicized ‘product’ that has nothing to do with the use of space for peaceful purposes”. He also called the draft resolution proposed by the USA and Japan a “cynical trick”. with “ulterior motives” and stated that Russia will continue to honor its obligations in space in accordance with international law.