The UN Security Council is the primary body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has the power to authorize the use of force, impose sanctions, and establish peacekeeping operations. However, the Security Council is often paralyzed by the veto power of its permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.
This means that any one of these countries can block any resolution from being passed, even if it is supported by all of the other members of the Council. This can make it very difficult for the UN to take action to resolve disputes or prevent conflict.
For example, in 2014, Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have condemned its annexation of Crimea. This prevented the UN from taking any action to stop Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
The veto power of the permanent members of the Security Council is a major obstacle to the UN's effectiveness in settling disputes. It allows these countries to protect their own interests, even if it means undermining the UN's mission of promoting peace and security.