A UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Monday. Reuters
A UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Monday. Reuters
A UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Monday. Reuters
A UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Monday. Reuters

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US pushes to reform UN veto rules over Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Georgia and Syria

The UN's top five powers may be less likely to cast vetoes if they have to explain after

James Reinl
James Reinl
United Nations

April 12, 2022

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The US announced plans on Tuesday to overhaul UN rules so that Russia and other permanent Security Council members would have to account for themselves after using their special powers of veto.

Washington’s UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield said she had joined a Liechtenstein-led group of members to propose a resolution in the 193-nation UN General Assembly to curb overuse of the veto in the 15-member council.

“This innovative measure would automatically convene a meeting of the General Assembly after a veto has been cast,” Ms Thomas-Greenfield said.

The veto — which is available to the US, Russia, Britain, France and China — is a “sober and solemn responsibility that must be respected”, she said.

Those who use it “should be prepared to explain why”.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield condemned Russia’s “shameful pattern of abusing its veto privilege” over the past decades to avert action over activities in Georgia, Syria and Ukraine, and over the shooting down of Flight MH-17 over Ukraine.

The US also frequently uses vetoes, often in support of its ally Israel.

Liechtenstein’s UN mission posted on social media that its draft was backed by 38 nations and would be put to the assembly next week.

Passing it would be a “meaningful step to empower the GA and strengthen multilateralism”, the mission said.

Richard Gowan, an analyst on UN issues for the International Crisis Group think tank, said the effort might not achieve any significant changes, as those with the power of veto were well versed in explaining their reasoning in UN meetings.

“It is a good initiative but veto diplomacy is more complex than it first seems,” Mr Gowan said.

The General Assembly has voted to take action against Russia three times since it invaded Ukraine on February 24, most recently to remove Moscow from the UN Human Rights Council.

A boy rides a bicycle past a house that was damaged by shelling in Andriivka village, not far from Kyiv. EPA
A boy rides a bicycle past a house that was damaged by shelling in Andriivka village, not far from Kyiv. EPA
A destroyed residential building in Mariupol, south-eastern Ukraine. Reuters
A destroyed residential building in Mariupol, south-eastern Ukraine. Reuters
Firefighters at work on the outskirts of Kharkiv, north-east Ukraine. EPA
Firefighters at work on the outskirts of Kharkiv, north-east Ukraine. EPA
A torn Ukrainian flag in front of a ruined Mariupol apartment building. Reuters
A torn Ukrainian flag in front of a ruined Mariupol apartment building. Reuters
Residents who cleared debris after Russian shelling eat lunch outside a damaged building in Makariv, near Kyiv. EPA
Residents who cleared debris after Russian shelling eat lunch outside a damaged building in Makariv, near Kyiv. EPA
Children play with a therapeutic dog at a shelter organised by volunteers in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. Reuters
Children play with a therapeutic dog at a shelter organised by volunteers in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. Reuters
A girl stands by the door of a bunker in Severodonetsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, as Russian troops intensify a campaign to take the strategic port city of Mariupol. AFP
A girl stands by the door of a bunker in Severodonetsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, as Russian troops intensify a campaign to take the strategic port city of Mariupol. AFP
A firefighter at work following a missile attack near Kharkiv International Airport. Reuters
A firefighter at work following a missile attack near Kharkiv International Airport. Reuters
A Ukrainian fighter walks in front of a destroyed house in Bohdanivka village, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian fighter walks in front of a destroyed house in Bohdanivka village, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
Two women hug outside a heavily damaged apartment block following an artillery attack in Kharkiv. Reuters
Two women hug outside a heavily damaged apartment block following an artillery attack in Kharkiv. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers guard the village of Barvinkove, as Russia's invasion on Ukraine continues. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers guard the village of Barvinkove, as Russia's invasion on Ukraine continues. Reuters
Leonid Serdiuchenko, a Ukrainian commander, stands next to destroyed vehicles outside Barvinkove. Reuters
Leonid Serdiuchenko, a Ukrainian commander, stands next to destroyed vehicles outside Barvinkove. Reuters
A woman carries the portrait of Dmytro Stefienko, 32, a civilian killed during the war, during his funeral in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
A woman carries the portrait of Dmytro Stefienko, 32, a civilian killed during the war, during his funeral in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
A Russian soldier collects weapons from inside the Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine. AFP
A Russian soldier collects weapons from inside the Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine. AFP
Relatives and friends attend the funeral of Andriy Matviychuk, 37, who served as a territorial defence soldier, who was captured and killed by the Russian army in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
Relatives and friends attend the funeral of Andriy Matviychuk, 37, who served as a territorial defence soldier, who was captured and killed by the Russian army in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
Anatoliy Morykin, 45, left, mourns the death of his mother, Valentyna Morykina, 82, who died in a retirement home in Bucha during the Russian invasion. AP
Anatoliy Morykin, 45, left, mourns the death of his mother, Valentyna Morykina, 82, who died in a retirement home in Bucha during the Russian invasion. AP
Nadiya, 65, shows a hole in a wall of a building after shelling in Zalissya, Ukraine. EPA
Nadiya, 65, shows a hole in a wall of a building after shelling in Zalissya, Ukraine. EPA
A booby trap found by locals near their home in Zalissya. EPA
A booby trap found by locals near their home in Zalissya. EPA
Debris of a school bus near a damaged school that was a base for Russian troops in Bohdanivka, Ukraine. EPA
Debris of a school bus near a damaged school that was a base for Russian troops in Bohdanivka, Ukraine. EPA
A man examines the debris of a destroyed Russian tank in Bohdanivka. EPA
A man examines the debris of a destroyed Russian tank in Bohdanivka. EPA
President Joe Biden speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport, en route to Washington. AP
President Joe Biden speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport, en route to Washington. AP
Valentina Saroyan sits in the basement of a school in Yahidne, near Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP
Valentina Saroyan sits in the basement of a school in Yahidne, near Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP
Vasyl Cherepenko stands next to a mass grave at a cemetery in Yahidne, near Dnipro, Ukraine. AP
Vasyl Cherepenko stands next to a mass grave at a cemetery in Yahidne, near Dnipro, Ukraine. AP
Oksana, second from left, and Yevhen, right, talk with police officers next to their apartment building damaged by shelling in Irpin, Ukraine. AP
Oksana, second from left, and Yevhen, right, talk with police officers next to their apartment building damaged by shelling in Irpin, Ukraine. AP
Women bid farewell to relatives as they leave the Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
Women bid farewell to relatives as they leave the Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
The partially destroyed Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine, hit on March 16 by an air strike. AFP
The partially destroyed Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine, hit on March 16 by an air strike. AFP
A man embraces his wife as she prepares to board a train at Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
A man embraces his wife as she prepares to board a train at Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
A woman walks through a damaged apartment building after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
A woman walks through a damaged apartment building after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
A missile pierces the road in front of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. Reuters
A missile pierces the road in front of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. Reuters
A boy walks by unexploded Russian shells in the village of Andriyivka close to Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A boy walks by unexploded Russian shells in the village of Andriyivka close to Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A man walks past a storage place for burned armed vehicles and cars, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A man walks past a storage place for burned armed vehicles and cars, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Local residents stand on top of a Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Local residents stand on top of a Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian families, who have fled Kherson amid the Russian invasion, watch a dolphin show at a hotel in Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
Ukrainian families, who have fled Kherson amid the Russian invasion, watch a dolphin show at a hotel in Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
Residents stand outside their apartments as shops burn after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
Residents stand outside their apartments as shops burn after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
Irina Szymanska holds her baby in a temporary shelter at the central train station for displaced people heading to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty Images
Irina Szymanska holds her baby in a temporary shelter at the central train station for displaced people heading to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty Images
A man walks in his yard, damaged by shelling, in the village of Andriivka, Ukraine. EPA
A man walks in his yard, damaged by shelling, in the village of Andriivka, Ukraine. EPA
Sixty-two-year-old Luba hugs a Ukrainian servicewoman in Andriivka. EPA
Sixty-two-year-old Luba hugs a Ukrainian servicewoman in Andriivka. EPA
A woman washes clothes in the yard of a ruined house in Andriivka. EPA
A woman washes clothes in the yard of a ruined house in Andriivka. EPA
Russian soldiers patrol a street in Volnovakha, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The picture was taken during a trip organised by the Russian military. AFP
Russian soldiers patrol a street in Volnovakha, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The picture was taken during a trip organised by the Russian military. AFP
Russian mine clearers search for explosive objects in a building the Russian authorities say was damaged by Ukrainian shelling. AFP
Russian mine clearers search for explosive objects in a building the Russian authorities say was damaged by Ukrainian shelling. AFP
A woman reads a book as residents find shelter from shelling in a metro station in Kharkiv. Reuters
A woman reads a book as residents find shelter from shelling in a metro station in Kharkiv. Reuters
Firefighters try to contain a fire at a plant in Kharkiv following Russian shelling. Reuters
Firefighters try to contain a fire at a plant in Kharkiv following Russian shelling. Reuters
Farm owner Zlobina Lubov tends to her animals in the village of Malaya Rohan, Ukraine. Reuters
Farm owner Zlobina Lubov tends to her animals in the village of Malaya Rohan, Ukraine. Reuters
A bathtub is seen inside a building that was heavily damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. Reuters
A bathtub is seen inside a building that was heavily damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. Reuters
A man looks out of his window, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Borodianka. Reuters
A man looks out of his window, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Borodianka. Reuters
Soldiers 'came to my house and said go to the basement' Zinaida Makishaiva, 82, said, before they started to shoot around her. 'God saved my life,' she said. Reuters
Soldiers 'came to my house and said go to the basement' Zinaida Makishaiva, 82, said, before they started to shoot around her. 'God saved my life,' she said. Reuters
A mother waits for police officers to exhume the body of her son from a well at a fuel station in Buzova, Kyiv region. According to the head of the village, he was killed by Russian soldiers. Reuters
A mother waits for police officers to exhume the body of her son from a well at a fuel station in Buzova, Kyiv region. According to the head of the village, he was killed by Russian soldiers. Reuters
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