United Nations General Assembly will subject any Security Council veto to debate
- The measure, which gained traction after Russia vetoed a resolution that would force its withdrawal from Ukraine, may affect China as well, analysts say
- The resolution will subject the vetoing Security Council member to mandatory scrutiny and debate, a potential check on behaviour
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UN General Assembly voted on Tuesday to subject Security Council members that veto resolutions to an assembly debate on their decision within 10 days – a move as likely to affect China as it does Russia.
Passed by consensus by the 193-member assembly, the resolution was greeted with applause and comes amid widespread criticism that the United Nations has failed in its mission to prevent the Ukraine invasion, regarded by some analysts as the greatest international security crisis since World War II.
A Security Council resolution two days after the February 24 invasion would have required Moscow to halt its attack and remove its troops from Ukraine – but Russia vetoed it.
“There has never been a stronger need for effective multilateralism than today, and there has never been a stronger need for innovation in order to secure the central role and voice of the United Nations,” said Christian Wenaweser, Liechtenstein’s UN ambassador who introduced the resolution.
The resolution does not prevent the five permanent Security Council members – Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain – from wielding their veto. But it will subject them to mandatory scrutiny and debate before the General Assembly, a potentially significant check on behaviour.
Tuesday’s vote came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a three-day trip to Russia and Ukraine. This latest bid to broker a ceasefire follows efforts by France, Germany, Turkey, Israel and others.