From The New York Times:
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Monday Russia would vote against the new draft U.N. resolution on Iraq, a move that would veto the U.S.-sponsored measure.
"Russia thinks that now there is no need for any new U.N. resolutions, and that is why Russia has openly declared that if the draft that has been submitted for consideration, and which contains unfulfillable ultimatum-type demands, will be put to vote, Russia will vote against this resolution," he said.
Ivanov did not use the word "veto" but a Russian foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that he meant exactly that.
Ivanov, speaking at a ceremony at a Moscow university, said U.N. weapons inspectors needed several more months to finish their work in Iraq, where they are looking for suspected weapons of mass destruction.
"Today when we have a real possibility to answer the outstanding questions and do so not within years, but within months. This way is real, reliable and it allows us to resolve the problem through political means and defuse the Iraqi crisis," he said.
The Washington-sponsored draft resolution would set a March 17 deadline for Iraq to disarm. Russia is one of the five permanent members with veto powers in the 15-strong U.N. Security Council.
Ivanov said last week's report by the weapons inspectors to the Council offered no grounds for launching a war against Iraq.
His remarks followed Russian President Vladimir Putin's telephone conversations with French President Jacques Chirac on Sunday and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Monday where they agreed that there were chances of a "peaceful solution" to the crisis.
Moscow, Paris and Berlin have promised to "assume full responsibility" in stopping a U.N. resolution that would authorize automatic use of force against Baghdad. Washington has massed troops in the region and has said it is ready to attack.