New York (United Nations), 1 November 2026 (SPS) – Russia has reaffirmed its support for a political and diplomatic settlement of the Western Sahara conflict, based on UN Security Council resolutions, the UN Charter and respect for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
Speaking during Friday's Security Council session on the renewal of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the Russian representative said Moscow vetoed the US-drafted resolution because it sought to alter the UN settlement framework and impose a unilateral approach to the conflict.
He criticised the draft for overlooking the Sahrawi proposal and giving precedence to Morocco's autonomy plan, stressing that imposing a solution without serious consultations with the other party would lead to a deadlock. He called for open dialogue between Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO to reach a mutually acceptable settlement.
The Russian diplomat further stressed that the Security Council cannot prejudge sovereignty issues or remove Western Sahara from the decolonisation agenda on the assumption that a political solution has already been identified.
Moscow defended its veto as necessary to protect the UN-led political process and the Sahrawi people's interests, insisting that MINURSO must continue fulfilling its mandate in support of their right to self-determination.
Russia also questioned Washington's impartiality as the penholder on Western Sahara, citing its recognition of Morocco's claimed sovereignty over the territory, and called for another Security Council member to assume this responsibility.
At the end of its statement, Russia announced a technical draft resolution limited to renewing MINURSO's mandate, aimed at ensuring the mission's continued operation and preserving the conditions for a settlement based on self-determination.
The US subsequently vetoed the Russian draft, while 11 Security Council members abstained.
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