US Sides with Russia on UN Vote, Sparks Outrage and Concerns
The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution on December 10th to strengthen international cooperation and lessen the repercussions of the Chornobyl disaster, with 97 nations voting in favor, but Russia, Belarus, China, North Korea, and the U.S. opposed it. The resolution, which uses the correct Ukrainian spelling, highlights Russia’s actions and their threat to nuclear safety, as Russia attempted to downplay its attacks on Chornobyl facilities. The resolution also points out the lasting impact of the 1986 disaster. The U.S. opposed the resolution due to disagreements about references to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, despite continued support for nuclear safety initiatives.