Russia scraps UN vote on Ukraine aid resolution over lack of support

Amid a lack of support from its closest allies, Russia has cancelled a UN Security Council vote on a "humanitarian" resolution on Ukraine, scheduled for Friday.

As per a report by AFP citing a Russian ambassador, Moscow failed to secure co-sponsorship of the draft text from China and India, suggesting that neither Beijing nor New Delhi was going to support it.

Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, later confirmed during a council meeting in Ukraine that the vote would not happen.

Russia has instead decided to call for an emergency meeting over bio-activities allegedly backed by the US in Ukraine.

Nebenzya, informed that Moscow "will keep the resolution in blue" but for the time being it will postpone voting on it.

He also clarified that under no circumstances will Russia withdraw the proposed resolution, which demands protection for civilians in Ukraine.

Moscow had already twice postponed the vote on the controversial resolution, which condemned attacks on civilians and called for their safe passage.

Russia filed the draft resolution Tuesday on the "deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine" and requested a vote for the following day.

It then changed its mind and asked for the vote to be moved to Thursday, before opting for Friday.

"This week, perversely, Russia tabled a resolution that, among other things, called for the protection of civilians, including women and children," said British ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward.

"This is cynical game-playing in the face of extreme human suffering," she added.

The United States envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Russia's resolution was "farcical" and "doomed to fail".

The assembly earlier this month massively approved a resolution condemning Russia's February 24 invasion of its neighbour.

That resolution received 141 votes in favour, five votes against and 35 abstentions.