Russia vetoes UN resolution condemning annexation of Ukraine regions as four countries abstain

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed treaties for an illegal annexation of occupied Ukrainian territory in a sharp escalation of his seven-month invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Volgograd Region Governor Andrei Bocharov during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution would have condemned the referendums, declared that they have no validity and urged all countries not to recognise the annexation.

China, India, Brazil and Gabon abstained on the vote in the 15-member council.