The United Nations faces a stark reality: a military conflict in Ukraine seems unlikely to be resolved through pressure from Western diplomats, who acknowledge limited options against Russia. Reuters notes the worry and frustration from some nations that the war has drawn excessive world attention.
“The longer the war lasts, the harder it becomes to identify effective sanctions against Russia,” said Richard Gowan, UN director of the Independent International Crisis Group. The agency notes that in several cases Western governments hesitate to take concrete steps, fearing weak support for measures. Observers also see a growing reluctance among members to publicly oppose Moscow in UN votes.
“It is impossible to isolate Russia”
In June, the European Union considered appointing a UN expert to probe human rights abuses in Russia, but the idea was dropped amid worries that nearly half of UN Human Rights Council members might oppose it.
“Countries ask: Is it wise to join those who oppose Russia?”
— said Olaf Vintsek, director of the Geneva branch of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Germany.
By contrast, the Russian mission at the UN in Geneva argues that Western states “know very well that it is impossible to isolate Russia because it remains a world power.”
News reports indicate that Russia uses its veto power in the 15-member UN Security Council to shield itself from certain actions. This power has, for example, blocked attempts to send UN peacekeepers to Ukraine, despite proposals from Ukrainian deputies in the Verkhovna Rada. UN peacekeepers are deployed to deter or resolve threats to peace and security when other measures prove insufficient.
Additionally, Moscow is alleged to have campaigned to blunt Western diplomatic efforts, Reuters reports. Ahead of the UN General Assembly vote to remove Russia from the Human Rights Council in April, Moscow warned that support for or abstention would be viewed as hostile and would yield consequences. The United States initiative won 93 votes in favor, 24 against, and 58 countries abstained.
Sanctions and red lines
US Permanent Representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Russia succeeded in spreading a “false narrative” that Western sanctions triggered the global food crisis — a claim linked to the conflict in Ukraine. In July, he noted that more than 17 African nations abstained due to concerns about Russian intimidation tactics in a Senate speech.
Within days of Russia’s February 24 operation, nearly three-quarters of the General Assembly backed a rebuke and called for the withdrawal of Russian troops, and three weeks later the UN condemned Russia for creating a dire humanitarian crisis. Support for action is expected to wane as March resolutions represent a high point, with no appetite for further measures unless red lines are crossed.
An unnamed senior Asian diplomat commented that red lines might include nuclear or chemical attacks, large civilian casualties, or the annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Meanwhile Western states have pursued election campaigns within UN bodies. In April, UNICEF was unable to gain re-election to the Russian executive board and saw other blank spots across various bodies. By May, nearly 30 countries in the World Health Organization abstained on a Ukraine-related resolution, with many African nations among them.
“What surprised many was the notion that such a conflict could be prolonged indefinitely,” observed a senior African diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity. He also pointed to Western arms supplies to Ukraine and a lack of real negotiations toward a peaceful end.
“Remove Russia from the UN Security Council”
In early April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested dissolving or reforming the UN Security Council, or removing Russia from membership. His call marked a rare moment when such ideas gained public attention; moving them forward would require a Security Council recommendation, which Russia itself can block.
“Another option would be to strip the powers of the Russian representative, but that would need broad support from General Assembly members,” Reuters reported.
On March 2, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution co-sponsored by 96 countries condemning Russia’s occupation of Ukraine, demanding the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and nullifying Moscow’s recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The resolution passed with 141 votes in favor, five against, and 35 abstentions. Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria, and Eritrea voted against.
The United States and several EU members also pressed for action. A UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine was planned for August 24, with intentions to review remarks from the UN Secretary-General following his visit to Ukraine.
A UN source noted that a formal request had been sent to the head of the UN Security Council through a wide-ranging consultation. Latest UN data show that since Russia’s operation began, 18.3 million Ukrainians have left their homes, with 10.6 million displaced abroad as refugees.