Russia, backed by China, vetoed a U. N. Security Council resolution on Tuesday to punish the Syrian government for using chemical weapons — marking the first major public clash between Moscow and the Trump administration.
Russia, backed by China, vetoed a U. N. Security Council resolution on Tuesday to punish the Syrian government for using chemical weapons — marking the first major public clash between Moscow and the Trump administration.
The United States and its European allies had supported the resolution, which would have imposed penalties on several Syrian military officials and entities for use of chlorine-filled barrel bombs in rebel-held areas densely populated with civilians.
Trump has said repeatedly that he sees Russia as a potential ally in the fight against Islamic State and in efforts to end the bloody Syrian war , which has dragged on for nearly six years. But the U. N. vote illustrated at least one fundamental policy difference over Syria.
Moscow had clearly telegraphed its intention to block the Security Council measure, saying it would be damaging to U. N.-led peace talks that convened last week in Geneva. After the veto, the Russian envoy accused Western allies of committing a “provocation” by pushing the vote forward.
Nine council members voted in favor of the resolution, which was drafted by Britain and France, with three voting against and three abstaining. That would have been enough yes votes for the resolution to pass if it had not been blocked by Russia and China, which — along with the United States, France and Britain — are permanent members of the Security Council, with veto power.
The Trump-appointed U. S. ambassador to the world body, Nikki Haley, called the blocking of the resolution “outrageous and indefensible,” saying Syrian President Bashar Assad must be held to account for targeting his own people with banned weapons. The armaments can cause extremely painful injuries and deaths, and children are particularly vulnerable.
“People died in one of the most brutal ways possible,” Haley told the council.
