Russia is going to be in charge of a United Nations Security Council meeting, even though it is still at war with neighboring Ukraine after a year. Ukrainian leaders have criticized Russia for this.
During an April meeting in New York, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the appointment of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the top Security Council spot “a bad joke.” This is because the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes.
“The fact that Russia will take over the UN Security Council on April 1 is a bad joke. Kuleba said on Twitter that Russia has taken over its seat, is fighting a colonial war, and that its leader is a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court for kidnapping children. “With Russia on the UN Security Council, the world can’t be safe.
The 15 countries that are part of the U.N. Every month, a different member of the Security Council is in charge. The U.S., U.K., France, China, and Russia are the only countries with permanent seats on the council.
The ambassador of Ukraine to the U.N. drew attention to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’s comments that the day Russia invaded was the saddest day of his time in office. chief.
“In fact, it was the saddest event in the history of the UN until April 1, 2023, when, if justice doesn’t win, Russia takes over as president of the Security Council. Stop breaking the law and destroying the UN Charter! Take responsibility now! “, tweeted Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya.
Olexander Scherba, a diplomat from Ukraine, said that Russia taking over the Security Council was “a little bit like Jack the Ripper taking over the health ministry.”
Reuters reports that White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that the government expects Russia to “continue to use its seat on the council to spread disinformation” and asked the country to “behave professionally” while it holds the presidency.
Jean-Pierre said, “Unfortunately, Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and there is no way under international law to change that.”
Russia’s permanent seat on the council, which gives it the power to veto any resolution that passes through the international body, has been a source of worry for a long time. Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor only made things worse. In February of last year, Russia blocked a Security Council resolution that would have told Moscow to stop attacking Ukraine and pull all its troops out.
The president of the Security Council is in charge of setting the group’s agenda and calling meetings, but this doesn’t give the state any more control over what gets through. Last February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, it was Russia’s turn to hold the rotating presidency.
