By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS – U.S. Linda Thomas-Greenfield is the Ambassador to United Nations. She cancelled a scheduled visit to Liberia to concentrate on U.N. diplomacy regarding Russia’s troop buildup in Ukraine. Washington has warned that Moscow may invade any moment.

Two weeks ago, tensions over Ukraine erupted in the U.N. Security Council at a Washington-requested public meeting. Russia tried unsuccessfully to block the discussion of the council, despite denying any intention to invade.

All members had the right to voice their opinions, but there was no action taken by the council of 15 members. This is even in case Russia invades Ukraine. Russia could block any attempt to resolve the issue by simply stating its position.

Along with the United States of America, France, Britain, and China, Russia is among five permanent, veto-wielding countries on the Security Council. Security Council has the responsibility of maintaining peace and international security.

Russia is currently the rotating president of the Council for February.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CRIMEA

Russian military may escalate crisis. Diplomats, foreign policy analysts and diplomats say diplomatic and international action at United Nations are likely to reflect what occurred in 2014 when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea.

In the years since, the Security Council met numerous times to deal with Ukraine’s crisis. The Security Council voted to reject a U.S. resolution on Crimea that called for countries to refuse recognition of it. The resolution received 13 support votes, China abstained, and Russia cast their veto.

To demonstrate Russia’s isolation from the rest of the world, Western nations submitted an identical text to the General Assembly (193 member countries), which passed a resolution invalidating the referendum. This referendum was approved by 100 countries, with 11 votes against and 58 abstentions. Twenty-six other countries didn’t vote.

General Assembly resolutions are political in nature but not legally binding. The General Assembly is not like the Security Council in that it does not have a veto.

What are WESTERN DIPLOMATS doing?

The West’s diplomacy in the United Nations has been largely focused on gaining support from U.N. member countries, should they require it. Russia was accused of violating the U.N. Charter.

The Charter, which outlines the purposes and principle of the United Nations as it was established in 1945, is the foundation document for the United Nations.

Thomas-Greenfield last month stated that Russia’s actions against Ukraine are more than a regional matter.

She stated that they have an impact on all U.N. member states and she must prepare to unite and stand with Russia should it defy our shared values and principles.

What can Russia do as a Security Council President?

Russia has the rotating presidency of the Council for February. While this role is administrative in nature, some diplomats fear Russia might delay requests by members of council to hold another discussion about Russia’s actions.

According to diplomats, as things stand now, the council will be discussing Ukraine on February 17th. This meeting is scheduled on a regular basis and will focus on Minsk Agreements, which were approved by council members in 2015. They are intended to stop separatist warfare by Russian-speakers within eastern Ukraine.

On February 23, the General Assembly will hold an annual meeting to discuss “the situation within temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine”.