Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has lashed out at the start of Russia’s month-long UNSecurity Council presidency, calling the move “absurd and destructive”.
Ednews informs via Independent that Russia has taken up the monthly presidency of the 15-member UN Security Council from Saturday, despite the fact that Vladimir Putin has been accused of war crimes and was issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court.
“It is hard to imagine something more evident that proves the complete bankruptcy of such institutions,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba also said Russia’s tenure was “a slap in the face to the international community.”
“I urge the current UNSC members to thwart any Russian attempts to abuse its presidency,” he said on Twitter, calling Russia “an outlaw on the UNSC.”
Earlier, Russia’s presidency was also criticised by the US.
“A country that flagrantly violates the UN Charter and invades its neighbour has no place on the UN Security Council,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday.