Russia had formally requested a UN investigation into the allegations, which it has done regularly since the start of the war in Ukraine. The resolution he put to a vote on Wednesday received two votes in favor (Russia and China), three against (the UK, France and the US, which have veto power) and the 10 non-permanent members of the Council abstained. The text provided for the “establishment of a committee composed of all members of the Security Council to investigate the allegations against the United States and Ukraine” regarding their obligations under the convention that prohibits the development, production and use of biological weapons. Deputy Russian ambassador Dmitry Polyansky expressed regret at the result of the vote, saying: “Western countries have proven in every way that the law does not apply to them.” “This is a normal colonial mentality that we’re used to and it doesn’t even surprise us,” he added, promising to return to the issue at the Biological Weapons Convention review conference from Nov. 28 to Dec. 16 in Geneva. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield responded: “The US voted against this resolution because it is based on misinformation, dishonesty, bad faith and a complete lack of respect” for the Security Council. This resolution is a “landmark for Russia’s deception and lies” and “no one is buying it except China,” he said. The US and Ukraine had already categorically rejected Russia’s accusations last week, with the Americans calling them “pure fabrications”.
