The United Nations Security Council met on Saturday to vote on a resolution to condemn Crimea’s referendum and declare it invalid. Russia vetoed the resolution and China abstained from voting.
Thirteen of the 15 nations supported the resolution, but since Russia vetoed it, the resolution was rejected. Crimea votes on Sunday to either remain an autonomous republic of Ukraine or join the Russian Federation. Samantha Power, US ambassador to the UN, was one of the 13 to vote in favor of the resolution.
“Russia isolated, alone and wrong blocked the resolution’s passage,” US ambassador Samantha Power told the council at its seventh emergency session on Ukraine since the crisis began.
“This is a sad and remarkable moment,” she said.
“As we speak, Russian armed forces are massing across Ukraine’s eastern border,” she added in a short speech.
Ukraine’s parliament approved interim President Oleksandr Turchynov’s resolution to build a 60,000 strong national guard. Russia did move soldiers to Ukraine’s border and participated in military exercises. Moscow said it was to familiarize the soldiers with unfamiliar lands.
The West has constantly told Russian President Vladimir Putin they will not recognize the referendum and will implement strong sanctions against Russia if they use the votes to justify more aggression towards Ukraine.