Published: 2026-06-30

The Veto Power and the Effectiveness of the United Nations Collective Security System: An Analysis Based on the Conflict in Ukraine

Jakub Zbigniew Kochanowicz Profil ORCID autora Jakub Zbigniew Kochanowicz
„Młody Jurysta" Czasopismo Studentów i Doktorantów Wydziału Prawa i Administracji Uniwersytetu Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie
Section: Artykuły
DOI https://doi.org/10.21697/mj.17081

Abstract

The article analyzes the impact of the Russian Federation’s veto power on the functioning of the United Nations Security Council in the context of aggression against Ukraine and evaluates the effectiveness of the United Nations collective security system. The aim of the study was to determine to what extent the ability of a permanent member of the Security Council to block resolutions limits the UN’s capacity to respond to violations of international law. The study applies the dogmatic-legal method based on the analysis of the Charter of the United Nations, UN resolutions, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and relevant academic literature. Additionally, institutional analysis and a case study concerning the Russian-Ukrainian conflict were used. The analysis demonstrated that the Russian Federation repeatedly used its veto power to block resolutions condemning its actions, which led to decision-making paralysis within the Security Council. As a result, some initiatives were transferred to the forum of the UN General Assembly. The findings confirm that the current model of the Security Council’s functioning limits the effectiveness of the collective security system when a permanent member of the UN is a party to the conflict.

Keywords:

veto power, United Nations, collective security, Ukraine, crime of aggression

Download files

Citation rules

Kochanowicz, J. Z. (2026). The Veto Power and the Effectiveness of the United Nations Collective Security System: An Analysis Based on the Conflict in Ukraine. „Młody Jurysta" Czasopismo Studentów I Doktorantów Wydziału Prawa I Administracji Uniwersytetu Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego W Warszawie, (1), 5–19. https://doi.org/10.21697/mj.17081

Cited by / Share


This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.