EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell stated that Russia’s election as the head of the UN Security Council is fitting for April Fool’s Day on April 1st.
The European diplomat emphasized that despite Russia being a permanent member of the Security Council, it constantly violates the essence of the legal framework of the United Nations.
“Russia, which currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council, is suitable for April Fool’s Day,” he wrote on Twitter.
Borrell stated that the EU will oppose any abuses by the Russian presidency.
The presidency of the Security Council is exercised by each member in turn for one month, in accordance with the alphabetical order of the Member States’ names in English. This role is assumed by 12 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council.
On April 1, 2023, Russia is scheduled to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, proposed a three-stage process to prevent this from happening.
Ukraine has initiated the process of excluding Russia from permanent membership in the UN Security Council with veto power and from the organization as a whole, according to Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is willing to mediate between Ukraine and Russia, but only with the consent of all parties. The White House has stated that Russia has no place in the UN Security Council, as it will use its chairmanship to spread disinformation and justify war crimes.