UNITED NATIONS: Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Monday calling for an immediate end to hostilities in Sudan where a war between two rival generals has been raging since April 2023.

A draft of the resolution prepared by Britain and Sierra Leone, which was seen by AFP, had called on both sides to “immediately cease hostilities” and begin talks on “a national ceasefire.”

All other countries of the 15-member council, including China, voted in favour of the measure drafted by Britain and Sierra Leone, Reuters news agency reported.

Russia accused the United Kingdom of attempting to meddle in Sudanese affairs.

“We agree with all Security Council colleagues that the conflict in Sudan requires a swift resolution. It is also clear that the only way to achieve this is for the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire,” Deputy Russian UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the meeting as quoted by Reuters.

UK Foreign Minister David Lammy, who chaired the meeting, told the council afterwards as quoted by The Washington Post: “While Britain works with our African partners, Russia vetoes their will.”

The draft resolution, cited by Reuters, called on the parties to the conflict to “immediately cease hostilities and engage, in good faith, in dialogue to agree steps to de-escalate the conflict with the aim of urgently agreeing a national ceasefire.”

The resolution also called on warring parties to engage in dialogue to agree on humanitarian pauses and arrangements, ensure the safe passage of civilians and the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid, among other measures.

The Deputy Russian UN Ambassador accused backers of the draft resolution of “double standards” when they were giving carte blanche to Israel to continue violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, and said Lammy’s criticism was an “excellent demonstration of British neo-colonialism.”

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, “One country stood in the way of the council speaking with one voice. One country is the blocker.”

Shame on you, Vladimir Putin.

Russia alone vetoed the UK and Sierra Leone’s UN Security Council resolution to protect civilians in Sudan, condemning more Sudanese people to killing, rape and starvation in a brutal civil war. pic.twitter.com/XOPjcDvqf4

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 18, 2024

War erupted in April 2023 from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule, and triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis.

The UN says nearly 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – need aid as famine has taken hold in displacement camps and 11 million people have fled their homes. More than 3 million of those people have left for other countries.

The UN recently warned that Sudan has been pushed to the brink of famine.