Nebenzia: Rejecting Russian draft resolution on humanitarian situation in Ukraine showed politicization

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, said that the failure to vote on the Russian draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine uncovered those who consider the politicization of the humanitarian file more important than providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians

Yesterday, the Security Council failed to pass a Russian draft resolution calling for ensuring the evacuation of civilians, providing full protection for them and medical personnel, and facilitating humanitarian access, after 13 abstentions, while Russia and China voted in favor of the draft

“We regret the failure of the Security Council to pass the resolution that would have facilitated the resolution of these humanitarian issues,” TASS news agency quoted Nebenzia as saying after the vote on the Russian draft resolution

“However, we still count on the genuinely interested members of the international community to do anything to ease the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and the suffering of the civilian population there,” Nebenzia added

Nebenzia added, “The vote uncovered those who consider the politicization of the humanitarian file more important than the United Nations’ assistance in providing humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainians”

He stressed that “The absence of a Security Council resolution in this regard will complicate the lives of humanitarian workers on the ground and enable the Ukrainian side to ignore its commitments to establish a ceasefire and transport people through humanitarian corridor”

Nebenzia rejected Western accusations about the possibility of Russia’s use of chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine, saying, “This is an accusation that crosses all borders… We have other means to conduct combat operations and we do not need to use chemical and biological weapons,” considering these accusations as inappropriate