Russia takes over UN Security Council, a ‘shame’ for kyiv

April 1, 2023 antiracism_adminFrance Treding

Published on : 04/01/2023 – 15:15

As usual, Russia took over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council on Saturday. The last time she chaired it was in February 2022. Ukraine reacted, calling it a “shame” to see Moscow chairing the supreme UN body.

Ukraine called it a “shame” on Saturday 1^er April, the prospect of Russia chairing the United Nations Security Council for a month, under the rule of the rotating presidency.

“It’s not just a disgrace. It’s another symbolic blow to the rules-based system of international relations,” Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote on Twitter.

It is very telling that on the holiday of one terror state – Iran, another terror state – Russia – begins to preside over the UN Security Council.

It’s not just a shame. It is another symbolic blow to the rules-based system of international relations.

—Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) April 1, 2023

“The Russian presidency of the United Nations Security Council is a slap in the face of the international community,” for his part lambasted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba. The latter also called on “the current members” of the UN’s executive body “to thwart any Russian attempt to abuse its presidency”.

The last time Moscow chaired the supreme body of the UN dates back to February 2022, during which Russian troops invaded Ukraine. The Kremlin said on Friday that it intended to “exercise all its rights” at the head of the Fifteen (in reference to the fifteen members of the Security Council, editor’s note).

With AFP and Reuters