The BBC, CNN and The Independent reported on the 1st that Russia took over the rotating presidency in April despite Ukraine urging other members of the UN Security Council to intervene.
The UN Security Council has 15 members, and each member serves as the chairman on a rotating basis for one month. Russia’s last rotating presidency was in February 2022, and Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation” against Ukraine at the end of that month. Since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March, it means that in the next month, the Security Council will be led by a country whose head of state is wanted internationally for alleged war crimes.
Despite Ukraine’s complaints, the United States said it could not prevent Russia, which is itself a permanent member of the Security Council, from taking over the presidency. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba slammed it as “the worst April Fool’s joke in the world”. “This country has systematically violated all fundamental principles of international security and is presiding over an institution whose sole mission is to maintain and protect international security,” he said.
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, said, “As of April 1, they are taking the level of absurdity to a new level. The Security Council is immobilized by its design, unable to resolve the issues that are primarily responsible, That is, prevent conflict and then deal with it.”
Although Ukraine is not a current member of the Security Council, it is often called upon to speak on issues related to the Ukraine-Russia war. Kislitya said Ukraine would keep its distance from the Security Council in April unless it was a matter of “critical national security interests”.
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