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Russia refused on Tuesday to support an extension for the European Union peacekeeping force in Bosnia, arguing that external forces should not push it toward joining the EU.
The vote in the UN security council highlighted the tensions that have escalated between Russia and the West in recent months, especially over Ukraine.
But the rest of the council voted to extend the EU military operation for a year and Russia abstained rather than use its veto power as a permanent council member, allowing the force to continue its work.
Eufor is meant to calm tensions that have lingered since the 1992-1995 civil war among Bosnia’s three ethnic groups — Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs.
Bosnian Serbs, who are backed by Russia and want an independent state, have prevented any effort to strengthen state institutions.
The vote followed last week’s US and EU welcome for a German-British proposal to move Bosnia closer to EU membership, putting minority national rights on hold.
