On Wednesday, Russia vetoed a US-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution calling on countries to halt an arms race in outer space, a decision that the US claims implies Moscow is “hiding something.”
“It’s a joke of a resolution,” Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters prior to the vote.

The vote occurred after Washington accused Moscow of creating a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon, which Russia has denied. Speaking before of the 15-member council decision, US administration officials declined to reveal details of the intelligence supporting the claim.

Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood told reporters ahead of the vote that if Russia did not vote in favour of the resolution, “it makes you wonder whether they’re hiding something.”

After nearly six weeks of negotiations, the United States and Japan put the draft Security Council resolution up for a vote. It gained 13 votes in favour, with China abstaining and Russia casting a veto.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated earlier this year that Russia opposes the deployment of nuclear weapons in space.

“Our position is clear and transparent: We have always been categorically against and are now against the deployment of nuclearweaponsinspace,” Russian President Vladimir Putin declared.