The vote came after Washington accused Moscow of developing a space-based nuclear weapon designed to destroy enemy satellites, which Russia has denied. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow is against placing nuclear weapons in space, Reuters reported.
“Today’s veto raises the question: Why? Why, if you follow the rules, don’t you support a resolution affirming them? What could you be hiding with that?” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield responded after the vote. “It’s incomprehensible and it’s a shame.”
They say they want their own proposal
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, accused Washington of trying to smear Moscow and said Russia would soon begin negotiations with council members on its own draft resolution aimed at preserving peace in outer space.
“We want a ban on placing any weapons in space, not just (weapons of mass destruction). But you don’t want that… Let me ask you the same question: Why?” Nebenzja replied to Thomas-Greenfield.
The text of the vetoed resolution calls for reaffirmation of the commitment to abide by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and calls on states to “actively contribute to the peaceful use of outer space and to the prevention of an arms race in outer space.”
The Outer Space Treaty prohibits signatories — including Russia and the United States — from placing “in Earth orbit any objects carrying nuclear weapons or other types of weapons of mass destruction.”
The vote took place after almost six weeks of negotiations on the resolution, Reuters reported.
In a speech at the United Nations, Biden proposed changes to the Security Council
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