UN General Assembly
1946

The permanent members are bound legally and morally in the same degree as all other Members of the United Nations, “to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered”. In the same degree as all the other Members they are bound to “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations”. These sweeping and binding commitments are not limited by the power of veto in the Security Council. The veto does not legalize any violations of these commitments. They are the law.