Russia took over the council presidency on Saturday under rules that provide for a change of presidency every month in alphabetical order of permanent and non-permanent members. This situation provoked criticism from Ukraine, which called it a “slap in the face of the international community”, and from its allies.
“As you know, Russia has chaired the Security Council since April 1. It’s like April Fools’
“As you know, Russia has chaired the Security Council since 1is april. It’s like an April Fool’s joke,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters on Monday. “The truth is, it’s a rotating seat. We expect them to behave in a professional manner,” she acknowledged. “But we also expect them to use their headquarters to spread disinformation and to promote their own agenda with regard to Ukraine, and we are ready to point fingers whenever they try to do so. do,” she said.
Both sides accuse each other
Ukraine and Westerners have been denouncing Russian “propaganda” on Ukraine for months. While this position is “in the vein of the Western narrative”, deplored Vassili Nebenzia, accusing in turn Kiev’s allies of “spreading disinformation” in particular “about the situation of Ukrainian children supposedly kidnapped in Ukraine and taken in Russia against their will.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes for the “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children during the Russian invasion. A “stupid” and “illegitimate” decision, insisted the Russian ambassador who is organizing an informal meeting at the UN on Wednesday on this issue.
“Russia is not in a position to talk about international law or UN values”
The Presidency of the Security Council gives certain prerogatives in terms of the agenda. But as a permanent member, Russia already has the ability to get emergency meetings when it asks for them. The country holding the presidency also usually organizes two or three specific meetings on selected topics. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is announced to chair one of them on April 24, on “the defense of the principles of the UN Charter”.
