Russia vetoed a UN resolution demanding the prevention of a nuclear arms race in space. In the vote held in the 15-member Security Council, 13 voted in favour, Russia voted against and China abstained.
The resolution called on all countries to agree not to develop or deploy nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in space, as prohibited by a 1967 international treaty involving the United States and Russia, and to verify compliance.
In her statement after the vote, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reminded that Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space.
“Today's veto brings to mind the question: Why? If you follow the rules, why not support a resolution confirming them? What could you be hiding? asked. “This is very surprising. And it's a shame.”
Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the decision "absolutely absurd and politicized" and said it did not go far enough in banning all weapons in space.
Russia and China have proposed an amendment to the US-Japan draft that would call on all countries, especially those with large space capabilities, to “prevent at all times the deployment of weapons in space and the threat of the use of force in space.”
The amendment, in which seven countries voted in favor, seven countries voted against, and one country abstained, was rejected because it did not receive the minimum 9 "yes" votes required to be accepted.