Russia Blocks UN resolution on Sudan, drawing international outrage
In a move that has sparked condemnation from the UK and the US, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, where a brutal 19-month civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
The veto blocks a draft proposed by the UK and Sierra Leone, urging both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to halt hostilities and enter talks to establish a national ceasefire.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy slammed Russia’s actions as a “disgrace,” accusing Moscow of obstructing international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis, which aid workers have described as the worst in the world.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has been fueled by a power struggle between Sudan’s army and the RSF, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.
Russia’s representative, Dmitry Polyanskiy, defended the veto, claiming that the UK-backed resolution ignored Sudanese sovereignty and represented Western interference. He criticized the draft for trying to “meddle”
in Sudan’s internal affairs and rejected calls to include certain clauses Sudan sought, such as condemning UAE support for the RSF.
This move has drawn sharp criticism from both Western officials and Sudanese activists, who accuse Russia of playing political games at the cost of Sudanese lives.
The veto also highlights the growing divide in the UN Security Council over how to address the crisis, as African diplomats had previously sought to bridge differences on the issue.
