# Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-08-17 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: International Diplomatic Standoff: Russia's Isolation Meta Description: Explore the complexities of Western efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically at the United Nations in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Read more here. URL: https://financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-warhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-08-17t072659z1lynxmpei7g07qrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-un-1736815455765-compressed.jpg) By Michelle Nichols and Emma Farge UNITED NATIONS/GENEVA (Reuters) – On a June night under the chandeliers of Russia’s United Nations mission in New York, dozens of U.N. ambassadors from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia attended a reception to [mark the country’s national day](https://www.financedigest.com/tall-marks-its-25th-year-with-celebration-day.html "TALL Marks its 25th Year with Celebration Day ") – less than four months after its forces invaded neighboring Ukraine. We thank all of you for your [support and your principled position against the so-called anti-Russian crusade,” Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-missiles-rain-down-on-ukraine-as-west-pledges-enduring-support.html "Russian missiles rain down on Ukraine as West pledges enduring support") U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told them, after accusing countries he did not name of trying to “cancel” Russia and its culture. The crowd of ambassadors illustrated the difficulties facing Western diplomats in trying to sustain international [resolve to isolate Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/russias-sberbank-urges-glencore-to-resolve-dispute-over-oil-bill.html "Russia’s Sberbank urges Glencore to resolve dispute over oil bill") diplomatically after an initial flurry of U.N. denunciations for [attacking Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-says-russia-on-brink-of-ukraine-attack-after-separatist-plea-for-help.html "U.S. says Russia on brink of Ukraine attack after separatist plea for help"). Wary of frustration and concern among some countries that the war is consuming too much global attention nearly six months in with no prospect of the United Nations being able to end it, Western diplomats acknowledge they are limited in how they can significantly further target [Russia beyond having meetings](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-prices-steady-as-news-of-saudi-russia-meeting-calms-investors.html "Oil prices steady as news of Saudi, Russia meeting calms investors"). As the war has dragged on, it has [become harder to find meaningful ways](https://www.financedigest.com/ways-to-become-a-millionaire.html "Ways to become a millionaire") to penalize Russia,” said Richard Gowan, U.N. [director at the independent International](https://www.financedigest.com/adnami-appoints-jeetesh-luhar-as-international-sales-director.html "Adnami appoints Jeetesh Luhar as International Sales Director") Crisis Group. In some cases, Western countries are shying away from some specific moves, fearing tepid support, as rising vote abstentions have signaled a growing unwillingness to publicly oppose Moscow, diplomats and observers said. The [European Union](https://www.financedigest.com/lisk-announces-lsk-token-listed-on-bitflyer-the-european-unions-newest-crypto-exchange.html "Lisk announces LSK token listed on bitFlyer, the European Union’s newest crypto exchange") mulled a plan in June to appoint a U.N. expert to investigate human rights violations in Russia, according to diplomats, but it shelved the idea over fears [nearly half](https://www.financedigest.com/another-lockdown-is-the-top-concern-of-nearly-half-of-uks-small-businesses.html "Another Lockdown is the Top Concern of nearly Half of UK’s Small Businesses") the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva might oppose it. [“Countries are asking:](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-asks-countries-to-cut-gas-demand-by-15-until-spring.html "EU asks countries to cut gas demand by 15% until spring") ‘Is it really so wise to be among those who beat down Russia?’,” said Olaf Wientzek, director of the Geneva office of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation. COSTUMES AND CHOCOLATES The [Russian mission to the United](https://www.financedigest.com/hungarys-otp-bank-pressured-by-ukraine-to-sell-russian-unit-ceo-says.html "Hungary’s OTP Bank “pressured” by Ukraine to sell Russian unit, CEO says") Nations in Geneva said Western states “know all too well that it’s impossible to isolate Russia since it’s a global power. Diplomatic isolation did not extend to a secret ballot in Geneva to decide the best “national dress” at a reception in June. A [Russian diplomat](https://www.financedigest.com/mooted-u-s-expulsion-of-russian-diplomats-would-mean-u-s-embassy-closure-says-moscow.html "Mooted U.S. expulsion of Russian diplomats would mean U.S. embassy closure, says Moscow") won and video showed her being awarded a box of chocolates. Ukraine’s delegation walked out. As a veto power on the 15-member U.N. Security Council [Russia can shield itself from substantial action like sanctions](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sanctions-european-gas-companies-polish-part-of-gas-pipeline.html "Russia sanctions European gas companies, Polish part of gas pipeline"), but it has also campaigned to blunt support for Western diplomatic moves elsewhere. Ahead of a vote by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly in April to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, Moscow warned [countries that a yes vote or abstention would be viewed](https://www.financedigest.com/forest-view-homes-minutes-from-the-heart-of-constable-country.html "Forest View – Homes Minutes From The Heart Of Constable Country") as “unfriendly” with consequences for their relations. The U.S.-led move succeeded, garnering 93 [votes in favor](https://www.financedigest.com/most-twitter-shareholders-vote-in-favor-of-sale-to-musk-sources.html "Most Twitter shareholders vote in favor of sale to Musk-sources"), 24 votes against and 58 abstentions. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Russia has been able to sway some countries with a “false narrative” that Western sanctions are to blame for a [global food crisis](https://www.financedigest.com/global-economic-crisis-strangling-progress-for-poor-warns-u-n-development-chief.html "Global economic crisis strangling progress for poor, warns U.N. development chief") stoked by Moscow’s war, but argued that it had not translated into greater support for Russia. More than 17 African countries abstained for [fear of Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/eastern-ukraine-town-empties-as-residents-fear-new-russian-assault.html "Eastern Ukraine town empties as residents fear new Russian assault") intimidation tactics against them. So we have to be conscious of that,” she told the U.S. Senate Committee on [Foreign Relations in July](https://www.financedigest.com/foreign-tourism-to-portugal-surpasses-pre-covid-levels-in-july.html "Foreign tourism to Portugal surpasses pre-COVID levels in July"). RED LINES Within a week of the Feb. 24 invasion, nearly three-quarters of the General Assembly [voted to reprimand Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/us-says-russia-plans-fake-independence-votes-in-seized-ukraine-territory.html "US says Russia plans fake independence votes in seized Ukraine territory") and demand it withdraw its troops. Three [weeks later it again overwhelmingly denounced Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/after-weeks-of-bombardment-1000-ukraine-marines-surrender-in-mariupol-says-russia.html "After weeks of bombardment, 1,000 Ukraine marines surrender in Mariupol, says Russia") for creating a “dire” humanitarian situation. [“Support will wane because the March resolutions](https://www.financedigest.com/holcim-supports-resolution-with-u-s-regarding-legacy-operations-in-syria.html "Holcim supports resolution with U.S. regarding legacy operations in Syria") represent a high water mark; and there is no appetite for further action unless red lines are crossed,” a senior Asian diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Some diplomats have suggested such red lines could be a nuclear or chemical weapons attack, large-scale [civilian deaths or annexation of Ukrainian](https://www.financedigest.com/scant-progress-evacuating-ukrainian-civilians-despite-russian-ceasefire-promise.html "Scant progress evacuating Ukrainian civilians despite Russian ceasefire promise") territory. Western states have had success in focusing on elections to U.N. bodies. For the first [time since](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war") U.N. children’s agency UNICEF was created in 1946, Russia failed to [win re-election to the board in April and failed to hold](https://www.financedigest.com/tennis-williams-retirement-on-hold-after-win-over-world-number-two.html "Tennis-Williams retirement on hold after win over world number two") seats at other bodies. But at the World Health Organization in May some 30 states, half of them from Africa, did not show up for a [vote on a Ukraine resolution](https://www.financedigest.com/hsbc-board-recommends-shareholders-vote-against-spin-off-resolution.html "HSBC board recommends shareholders vote against spin-off resolution"), prompting some delegates in attendance to joke that they must be missing out on a party. Most puzzling to us is the idea that a conflict like this is in essence being encouraged to continue indefinitely,” said a senior African diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing Western weapons supplies to Ukraine and a lack of [real talks](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-money-reserve-reviews-real-talk-about-diversifying-with-precious-metals.html "U.S. Money Reserve Reviews: Real Talk About Diversifying With Precious Metals") to peacefully end the conflict. [Ukraine has appealed for Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-seizes-ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-as-forces-lay-siege-to-cities.html "Russia seizes Ukraine nuclear power plant as forces lay siege to cities") to be expelled from the United Nations. But making the unprecedented [move requires a Security Council recommendation – that can be blocked](https://www.financedigest.com/exxon-sues-eu-in-move-to-block-new-windfall-tax-on-oil-companies.html "Exxon sues EU in move to block new windfall tax on oil companies") by Russia – and then a General Assembly vote. Another option could be to revoke the credentials of Russian [President Vladimir Putin’s representatives but that would need at least majority support](https://www.financedigest.com/taiwans-president-looks-forward-to-britain-supporting-its-cptpp-bid.html "Taiwan’s President looks forward to Britain supporting its CPTPP bid") of the General Assembly. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols and Emma Farge; editing by Mary Milliken and Grant McCool) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---