Russia vetoes UN Security Council resolution 'deploring' Ukraine referendums

Resolution notes that Ukraine did not authorise referendums in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions on joining Russia

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  From left, Moscow-appointed head of Kherson region Vladimir Saldo, Moscow-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin, and leader of the Luhansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik during a ceremony to sign an annexation agreement with Russia in Moscow. AP

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  Russians gather for a celebration after the ceremony in central Moscow. EPA

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  People gather near a screen showing Mr Putin during a broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters

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  Mr Putin speaks during the ceremony to sign the treaties for the new territories' accession to Russia at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. EPA

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  Law enforcement officers stand guard as people walk towards Red Square to attend the ceremony marking the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories. Reuters

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  Participants listen to Mr Putin at the ceremony in the Georgievsky Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Reuters

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  Honour guards attend the ceremony. Reuters

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  Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrives at the ceremony. AP

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  People walk towards Red Square in Moscow. Reuters

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  People gather in front of screens located near the Kremlin before the live broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters

Russia on Friday vetoed a US-backed UN Security Council resolution “deploring” Russia for its “illegal” referendums held in four Ukrainian regions.

While 10 of the 15 Council members, including the UAE, voted in favour of the text, China, India, Gabon and Brazil abstained.

The “no” vote from Russia, one of five permanent members of the Security Council that have veto power, killed the measure.

The US and Albanian-sponsored resolution was put forward in response to the ballot measures, widely criticised by the West, that set the stage for Russian President Vladimir Putin to annex four regions in eastern Ukraine on Friday.

The US ambassador to the UN Linda, Thomas-Greenfield, told council members the resolution would now head to the 193-member General Assembly.

“We will take further steps in the General Assembly to send an unmistakable message to Moscow that the world is still on the side of defending sovereignty and protecting territorial integrity,” she said.

The resolution notes that Ukraine did not authorise the so-called referendums in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and demands the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine.

The resolution also reaffirms UN commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence within its internationally recognised borders.

Many changes were made to the draft to accommodate other council members, UN director at the International Crisis Group Richard Gowan told The National.

“The US has watered down its draft, for example, by removing a reference to Russia's occupation of Crimea, so that China and India will abstain rather than oppose it,” he said.

“Western diplomats have been planning for this scenario for months as they always knew Russia was likely to play the annexation card.”

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  Smoke rises on the outskirts of the city during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters

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  Workers surround the Monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred with sandbags against damage from shelling in Mykolaiv. EPA

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  Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for talks before a meeting between the Russian president and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia. AFP

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  People take water from a water pump in Kyiv. EPA

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  A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Reuters

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  A woman outside her home, which was destroyed during battles at the start of the conflict, in Yahidne, Chernihiv. Getty Images

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  People shelter inside a subway station during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters

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  Firefighters at the site of a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

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  A woman walks past the site of a Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. Reuters

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  Rescuer workers at a building destroyed in an attack in Mykolaiv. Reuters

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  Parts of a drone lie on a street in Kyiv. Reuters

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  A drone flies over the Ukrainian capital during an attack. AFP

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  Ukrainian servicemen tow a captured Russian armoured vehicle in Rudneve village, Kharkiv. EPA

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  A partially destroyed residential building in Saltivka, in Kharkiv. AP

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  Ukrainian servicemen fire a captured Russian howitzer on a front line near Kupyansk city, Kharkiv. EPA

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  Ukrainian servicemen near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region. AFP

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  An officer from a Ukrainian national police emergency demining team prepares to detonate collected anti-tank mines and explosives near Lyman, in the Donetsk region. AFP

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  A boy playing on a destroyed Russian tank on display in Kyiv. AFP

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  A young couple hiding underground during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia. AFP

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  Ukrainian firefighters looking for survivors after a strike in Zaporizhzhia. AFP

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  Workers fix a banner reading 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' to the State Historical Museum near Red Square in Moscow. AFP

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  Residents try to cross a destroyed bridge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AFP

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  Alyona Kishinskaya helps to clean up a shop as it prepares to reopen in Balakiya, Ukraine, after a six-month Russian occupation. Getty Images

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  Alla, 12, has a swinging time in Balakiya, Ukraine, as life goes on despite the war. Getty Images

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  Ukrainian flags in the town square in Balakiya. Getty Images

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  A destroyed Russian command centre in Izium, Ukraine. Getty Images

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  In what may be a final farewell, young Russian recruits - escorted by their wives - walk to a train station in Volgograd before being sent to war in Ukraine. AP

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  Russian recruits board the train to Ukraine in Volgograd. AP

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  Ukrainian soliders drive a tank at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. AFP

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  Volunteers pass boxes of food aid on a destroyed bridge over the Oskil River. AFP

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  Ukrainian soliders rest on an armoured personnel carrier. AFP

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  A sign warns of landmines in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. AFP

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  This crater was left after a missile strike in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. AFP