Ukraine has branded Russia’s presidency of the UN Safety Council for the month of April “a symbolic blow,” becoming a member of a refrain of concern from Western nations.
Moscow assumes the presidency as a part of its month-to-month rotation between the Safety Council’s 15 member states, with ties with the West at their lowest level for the reason that Chilly Conflict over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s chief of employees, stated Russia’s tenure was a “symbolic blow.”
“It’s not only a disgrace. It’s one other symbolic blow to the rules-based system of worldwide relations,” he wrote on Twitter.
Ukraine’s Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated Russia assuming the presidency was “a slap within the face to the worldwide neighborhood”.
“I urge the present UNSC members to thwart any Russian makes an attempt to abuse its presidency,” he wrote on Twitter on Saturday, calling Russia “an outlaw on the UNSC”.
Moscow final chaired the council in February 2022, the identical month it invaded Ukraine – prompting Kyiv to name for Russia’s removing from the council.
Russia will maintain little affect on choices however will probably be in command of the agenda.
Moscow has stated Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov is planning to chair a UN Safety Council assembly this month on “efficient multilateralism”.
Russian overseas ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova additionally stated that Lavrov would lead a debate on the Center East on April 25.
The Kremlin stated on Friday it deliberate to “train all its rights” within the function.
Worldwide criticism
Washington additionally criticised Russia’s membership of the Safety Council and its standing as a everlasting member.
The White Home urged Russia to “conduct itself professionally” when it assumes the function, saying there was no means to dam Moscow from the submit.
“A rustic that flagrantly violates the UN Constitution and invades its neighbour has no place on the UN Safety Council,” White Home spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Friday.
“Sadly, Russia is a everlasting member of the Safety Council and no possible worldwide authorized pathway exists to alter that actuality,” she added, calling the presidency “a largely ceremonial place”.
The Baltic states additionally expressed their concern.
Estonia’s UN envoy Rein Tammsaar, talking additionally on behalf of Latvia and Lithuania, warned the Safety Council Friday because it met to debate Russia’s plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.
“Isn’t it telling that tomorrow, on the anniversary of the Bucha killings, Russia will assume the Presidency of the UN Safety Council?
“That is shameful, humiliating and harmful to the credibility and efficient functioning of this physique,” he stated.
Lithuania’s Overseas Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis mockingly congratulated Russia on assuming the presidency.
“Trying ahead to some energetic discussions on Ukraine’s proposal for the vacation spot of your warships,” he wrote on Saturday.
The strategic communications division of the Lithuanian overseas ministry tweeted in the meantime that “Russia, waging a brutal conflict in opposition to Ukraine, can solely lead #InsecurityCouncil”.
In an interview with the AFP information company on Thursday, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated she anticipated Russia to behave “professionally” within the presidency, however expressed doubts.
“We additionally count on that they can even search alternatives to advance their disinformation marketing campaign in opposition to Ukraine, america and all of our allies,” she stated.
“At each alternative, we’ll elevate our issues about Russia’s actions,” she added, reiterating Washington’s condemnation of Moscow’s “conflict crimes and human rights violations” in Ukraine.
