MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Moscow is regretful about the decision by the UN Security Council not to support a resolution by Russia and China on an international investigation into the Nord Stream blasts, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.
“Of course, we regret [this decision]. In our view, everyone should be interested in having an objective investigation, in which all stakeholders would be involved, as well as anyone who could shed light on who may have ordered and who may have executed this act of terrorism. We believe this is extremely important, and we regret that no such initiative has been taken, but, absolutely, the Russian side will continue to insist that no one be allowed to whitewash this topic,” the Kremlin spokesman clarified.
Peskov was also asked what other options were available, and which steps Russia intended to take. "Right now, it’s probably hardly possible to be specific. But we will do everything we can to continue to insist and initiate such an international investigation," he assured.
On Monday, the UN Security Council did not support the resolution by Russia and China on an international investigation into sabotage at the Nord Stream pipelines. The document was supported by three countries, nobody voted against it and 12 countries abstained from voting. Thus, the resolution did not garner the nine votes necessary for it to be approved. Russia, China and Brazil voted for it, while Albania, the UK, Gabon, Ghana, Malta, Mozambique, the UAE, the US, France, Switzerland, Ecuador and Japan abstained. Belarus, Venezuela, North Korea, Nicaragua, Syria and Eritrea were also among the resolution’s coauthors but they are not members of the UN Security Council and did not participate in the vote.
The resolution draft proposed to entrust UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with establishing an international independent investigation commission "to conduct a comprehensive, transparent and impartial international investigation of all aspects of the act of sabotage on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines — including identification of its perpetrators, sponsors, organizers and accomplices."