When Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, assumed the rotational chair in April in turn in the UN Security Council for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security, Ukraine protested.
According to CNN and The Guardian on the 1st (local time), Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva called the month-long UN Security Council presidency run by Russia “the worst April Fool’s joke in the world.”
“A state that has systematically violated all the basic rules of international security is presiding over an organization whose sole task is to safeguard and protect international security,” Kuleba said.
Andriy Ermak, chief of staff to the President of Ukraine, tweeted: “It’s not just disgraceful. Another symbolic blow to the rules based on the system of international relations.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Serhiy Kislicha, also criticized the current Security Council as powerless and incompetent, saying, “April Fool’s Day has reached a whole new level.” He said he would not attend the meeting.
The Security Council presidency rotates alphabetically among the 15 member states. The Security Council is governed by five permanent members, including the United States and Russia.
Diplomats at the United Nations are well aware of the skepticism that Russia is leading the Security Council while Russian forces are occupying parts of UN member Ukraine, CNN reported.
The Guardian reported, citing Reuters, that Russia last occupied this position (the Security Council presidency) in February 2022, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine in full force.
“The Security Council chairperson must remain neutral, but Russia could manipulate meetings on Ukraine and use the month (April) to portray the United States and other Western countries as making false accusations against Russia,” CNN said. There is,” he reported.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.