On Wednesday, April 24, Russia vetoed the UN resolution banning the use and deployment of nuclear weapons in space.
AP News reports this.
Resolution banning nuclear weapons in outer space
The authors of the resolution, the United States and Japan, call on the countries of the world to prevent a nuclear arms race in space.
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Among the 15 members of the UN Security Council, 13 countries supported the resolution, Russia opposed it, and China abstained.
Purpose of the resolution — urge all countries not to develop or deploy nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in space, as prohibited by a 1967 international treaty to which the United States and Russia are signatories.
US reaction
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield after the vote recalled the words of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that Moscow supposedly does not intend to place nuclear weapons in space.
— Today's veto raises the question: Why, if you adhere to the rules, did you not support the resolution that enshrines them? >
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan noted that the United States believes Russia is developing a new satellite with a nuclear device.
He also supported Linda Thomas-Greenfield, noting that if Putin had not intended to place nuclear weapons in space, then Russia would not have vetoed the resolution.
Russia's reaction
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya called the resolution absolutely absurd and politicized.
Russia and China proposed an amendment
Russia and China proposed an amendment to the draft resolution that would call on all countries, especially those with powerful space capabilities, to permanently prevent the deployment of weapons in outer space, as well as the threat of the use of force in space.
As a result, seven countries voted in favor, seven countries — against. One member of the UN Security Council abstained, and therefore the amendment was rejected because it did not receive the minimum nine votes.
