The UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution on the situation in Ukraine
The United Nations Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution on the current situation in Ukraine on the 25th.
The draft, submitted to the Security Council by the United States and Albania, consists mainly of "condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine."
The results of the vote showed that Russia voted no, 11 countries voted in favor, and 3 countries, including China, abstained. Under the charter of the United Nations, the adoption of the Security Council draft resolution requires at least 9 votes in favour, and none of the 5 permanent members of the Security Council, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and China, has voted veto.
Representative of China: Any action by the Security Council must be truly conducive to defusing the Ukrainian crisis
The United Nations Security Council held a meeting on the 25th to vote on the draft resolution on the current situation in Ukraine proposed by the United States and other countries. Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, attended the meeting, abstained in the voting on the relevant draft resolution, and made an explanatory statement on China's vote.
Zhang Jun said that China is deeply concerned about the latest developments in the situation in Ukraine, and the development of the situation to this point is something that China does not want to see. China has always decided its own position on the basis of the merits of the matter itself, and stands for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly observed. China has always called on all parties to seek a reasonable solution to each other's concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual respect, welcomes and encourages all efforts to promote a diplomatic settlement, and supports the Russian side and the Ukrainian side in resolving the issue through negotiations.
Zhang Jun pointed out that the Security Council has held two emergency meetings in the past week, and all parties have fully stated their positions and concerns on the current situation. In the face of the current very complex and sensitive situation, the Security Council must be both necessary and cautious. Any action must be truly conducive to defusing the crisis, not adding fuel to the fire. If it is improperly handled and blindly pressured and sanctioned, it will only lead to more casualties, greater property damage, more complicated and chaotic situations, more difficult to bridge differences, and completely close the door to peaceful settlement, and ultimately the vast number of innocent people will suffer. Such lessons are very painful and must be deeply learned. Based on the above, China abstained in the voting on the draft resolution.
Zhang Jun stressed that the Ukrainian issue did not appear today, and the current situation did not occur suddenly overnight, but was the result of the long-term joint action of various factors. China advocates a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept. China believes that the security of one country cannot be guaranteed at the expense of the security of other countries, and the security of the region cannot be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs. The legitimate security concerns of all States should be respected. In the case of NATO's five consecutive rounds of eastward expansion, Russia's legitimate demands on security should be taken seriously and properly resolved.
Zhang Jun said Ukraine should become a bridge between the East and the West, not the forefront of great power confrontation. China strongly calls on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, ease tensions and avoid civilian casualties. The final solution to the Ukrainian crisis should also abandon the Cold War mentality, attach importance to and respect the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiations. China calls on all parties to return to the track of diplomatic negotiations and political settlement as soon as possible, show goodwill and goodwill, make political decisions and achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Ukrainian issue through dialogue and consultation.
Following the recent heating up of the situation in Ukraine, the Council has held several emergency meetings. In this vote, the United States and other Security Council members voted in favor, Russia voted against, And China, India, and the United Arab Emirates abstained.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: Russia's relations with the West are close to the critical line on the road of no return
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova said on the 25th that Russia's relations with the West are close to the critical line on the road of no return.
Zakharova said in a program on Russia's First Channel on the 25th that Western countries did not provide Russia with any opportunity for dialogue that can promote the results of bilateral relations, economic, financial and humanitarian development, nor did it provide any "accurate" contact opportunities that can avoid the deterioration of bilateral relations, but instead made a teacher-like monologue. The West has never wanted to be truly equal with Russia, and its rhetoric is not aimed at normalizing relations between the two sides, but lamenting the failure to impose its ideas on Russia.
Commenting on the Council of Europe's decision to suspend Russian representation, Zakharova said the Council of Europe's decision meant that the organization's existence became meaningless. "Apart from us and the endless violations against us," she said, the Council of Europe doesn't even have an agenda for discussion.
The Council of Europe said on the 25th that due to Russia's military action against Ukraine, it decided to suspend Russia's representation in the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers and parliamentary assemblies from now on. The Council of Europe said in a statement that, despite the above decision, Russia remains a member of the Council of Europe and a party to the relevant conventions of the Council of Europe, including the European Convention on Human Rights. The statement said the suspension of Russian representation was only a temporary measure and that communication channels remained open.
Press Secretary of the President of Ukraine: Ukraine and Russia are holding consultations on the location and timing of the negotiations
Ukrainian presidential press secretary Nikifov said on the 25th that the Ukrainian side has agreed to Russian President Putin's proposal and is ready to negotiate a ceasefire and peace, and the two sides are currently holding consultations on the location and time of negotiations.
According to TASS, Nikiforov posted on social media on the same day to refute the allegations that the Ukrainian side refused to negotiate. He said: The Ukrainian side has always been prepared to hold discussions on ceasefire and peace. This is the "consistent position" of the Ukrainian side, which agrees with the Russian president's proposal.
Nikiforov said the two sides have been consulting on where and when to negotiate in recent hours. "The sooner negotiations begin, the better the chances of returning to normal life."
According to reports, Podolyak, an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that in addition to discussing ceasefire and peace, the Ukrainian side does not rule out discussing ukraine's neutrality in the negotiations, as well as a package of security guarantees.
According to the Ukrainian Presidential Information Bureau, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy called for negotiations on the cessation of Military Operations by Russia in a video speech on the 25th. Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov then said that the Russian side is ready to send a delegation to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, to hold talks with the Ukrainian side. Peskov later said that in response to the Russian side's idea of preparing to hold talks with the Ukrainian side in Minsk, the Ukrainian side "lost contact" with the Russian side after proposing the Polish capital Warsaw as the place of negotiations.
People take the subway in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 25. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Jinbo
Press Secretary of the Russian President: There is no news after the Ukrainian side proposed that Warsaw be the place for negotiations
According to tass news agency, Russian presidential press secretary Peskov said on the 25th that the Ukrainian side has no news after proposing to hold talks with the Russian side in Warsaw, the polish capital.
Peskov said that in response to the Russian side's announcement that it was ready to send a delegation to hold talks with the Ukrainian side in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, the Ukrainian side "lost contact" with the Russian side after proposing Warsaw as the place of negotiations.
According to the Ukrainian Presidential Information Bureau, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy called for negotiations on the cessation of Military Operations by Russia in a video speech on the 25th. Peskov then said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation to Minsk to negotiate with the Ukrainian side. The Russian delegation will include representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kremlin.
Russian Foreign Minister: As long as the Ukrainian troops lay down their arms, they can negotiate at any time
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said at a press conference on the 25th that as long as the Ukrainian armed forces lay down their arms and stop resisting, the Russian side can negotiate at any time.
In response to a reporter's question, Lavrov once again stressed that "no one wants to occupy Ukraine" and that the Ukraine issue will return to the negotiating table after Russia's "de-militarization" special military operation.
According to TASS, Russian presidential press secretary Peskov said on the 25th that the statement that Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia on Ukraine's neutral status still needs to be analyzed, but in general, it can be considered a positive signal. It is not yet possible to say whether there will be contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy in the near future.
TASS reported earlier on the 25th that Podoriak, an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, told the media that if there is an opportunity, the Ukrainian side is ready to discuss the neutrality of Ukraine with the Russian side. According to the Ukrainian Presidential Information Bureau, Zelenskiy called for negotiations on the cessation of Russian military operations in a video speech on the 25th.
Peskov said on the 24th that if Ukraine is ready to negotiate on its neutral status and not to deploy weapons in its territory, Russia is willing to negotiate with it.
Russian Defense Ministry: Russian forces have completed the blockade of the Ukrainian capital from the west
People take a ride on the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, preparing to leave Kiev on Feb. 25. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Jinbo
The website of the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a notice on the 25th that the Russian army has completed the blockade of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, from the west.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov said in the briefing that the Russian army successfully carried out airborne operations in the Gostomery airport area on the outskirts of Kiev on the 24th, and more than 200 helicopters participated in the operation. At present, the main force of the Russian airborne troops has met the soldiers who had previously been parachuted in at the Gostomelli airport and blockaded Kiev from the west.
Konashenkov said Russian troops would not attack residential areas in Kiev.
Konashenkov also said that the Russian army has completed the blockade of the Ukrainian city of Chernigov and that the Russian army is taking all measures to prevent civilian casualties.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Edit: Lin Shuang
Proofreader: Yu Pu
Audit: Lai Yongqiang