Backing the rival sides in Venezuela, the United States and Russia failed Thursday to get the deeply divided UN Security Council to take a stand on how to address the Latin American nation's political conflict and humanitarian crisis sparked by an economic downturn worse than the U.S. Great Depression.
The council rejected their rival resolutions -- the U.S. measure backing opposition leader Juan Guaido and calling for free and fair elections, the Russian draft supporting President Nicolas Maduro and opposing interference in Venezuelan affairs and any threats of military intervention.
He expressed concern that the council meeting "may be exploited as a step for preparations for a real -- not humanitarian -- intervention." He reiterated U.S. concerns about Guaido's safety and security when he returns to Venezuela and expressed hope that all council members "will join us in doing so."
Russia's resolution got four votes in favour, from Russia, China, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. Seven nations voted against, and four abstained. If it had received nine "yes" votes, Abrams made clear the Trump administration would have vetoed it. "This is a sad day for the international community, particularly for the people of Venezuela," he said. "This is undoubtedly a collective failure -- a failure of us 15 that are seated at this table, because we all came here today knowing that we would not reach the needed consensus for the adoption of a resolution."
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