A Moscow proposal to hold an international inquiry into last year’s destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline, which had brought Russian natural gas to Northern Europe, failed to pass at the UN Security Council (UNSC).
In a March 27 vote, only Russia, China, and Brazil voted in favor of the draft resolution, while the remaining 12 council members abstained.
Resolutions need a minimum of nine votes out of 15 to be adopted by the Security Council. They are also subject to potential veto by any of the council’s five permanent members: the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, Moscow’s UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya described the outcome as “expected.” Nevertheless, he added, “it reveals a few things.”…