Russia is set to assume the presidency of a United Nations Security Council meeting as it continues to wage its year-long war against neighboring Ukraine, drawing criticism from Ukrainian leaders.
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. confirmation to the top The Security Council space during an April meeting in New York is “a bad joke” as the International Criminal Court (ICC) has an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on alleged war crimes.
“Russia’s presidency of the UN Security Council on April 1 is a bad joke. Russia has usurped his seat; it is waging a colonial war; their leader is a war criminal wanted by the ICC for kidnapping children”, Kuleba said on Twitter. “The world cannot be a safe place with Russia in the UNSC #BadRussianJoke #InsecurityCouncil.”
The 15 member states of the UN Security Council take turns as president each month. Only five seats on the council are permanent: those held by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the UN highlighted the comments of the secretary general of the international organization, António Guterres. call the day of the invasion of Russia the saddest moment of his tenure as head of the UN.
“Indeed, the saddest in UN history until April 1, 2023 when, unless justice prevails, (Russia) assumes the presidency of (the) Security Council. Stop violating justice and annulling the UN Charter! Accountability now!” Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya wrote on Twitter.
Ukrainian diplomat Olexander Scherba called Russia taking over the Security Council “a bit like Jack the Ripper taking over at the health ministry.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that the administration expects Russia to “continue to use its council seat to spread disinformation” and urged the country to “conduct itself professionally” during its time. in the presidency. according to Reuters.
“Unfortunately, Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and there is no feasible international legal path to change that reality,” Jean-Pierre said.
Russia’s permanent seat on the council, and with it the power to individually veto any resolution that passes the international body, has long been an issue of concern that was fueled by Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor. Last February, Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have asked Moscow to cease its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops.
The President of the Security Council is responsible for establishing the body’s agenda and the calling of meetings, though the state gains no additional power over what is carried out. Russia held the rotating presidency last February, the month of its invasion.
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