Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution declaring Sunday’s referendum on Crimean independence from Ukraine illegal, with China abstaining from the vote.
“We can not go along with [the resolution’s] basic assumption that is declaring illegal the ... planned referendum,” said Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the United Nations, ahead of the vote.
Members of the council that voted in favour of the resolution — including the United States — condemned the Russian veto.
“This is a sad and remarkable moment,” said Samantha Power, US ambassador to the UN.