Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmitry Kuleba has attacked Russia’s upcoming presidency of the UN Safety Council, claiming it will flip the physique into an “insecurity council.” 

The presidency of the UNSC rotates month-to-month between its 15 members, with Russia scheduled to imagine the function on Saturday, April 1, in accordance with alphabetic order.

“Russian UN Safety Council presidency on April 1 is a nasty joke,” Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Thursday, additionally accusing Moscow of waging “a colonial conflict” towards Ukraine.

The minister insisted that Russia, which is one among 5 UNSC everlasting members together with the UK, China, France, and the US, has “usurped its seat” on the council.

“The world can’t be a secure place with Russia at UNSC,” Kuleba alleged, accompanying the put up with the hashtags “#BadRussianJoke” and “#InsecurityCouncil.” 

Kuleba’s remarks have been echoed by Kiev’s envoy on the UN, Sergey Kislitsya, who argued that “as of 1 April, they’re taking the extent of absurdity to a brand new degree.” 

With Russia assuming the presidency, the UN Safety Council shall be “immobilized and incapable to deal with the problems of their main duty, that’s prevention of conflicts after which coping with conflicts,” he claimed.

Kislitsya added that he can be staying away from the UNSC subsequent month, and would solely attend conferences within the occasion of an “problem of essential nationwide safety curiosity.” 

Ukraine shouldn’t be a Safety Council member, however its consultant has typically been referred to as to talk on the physique all through the battle with Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has made clear that Russia has no intention of giving up its presidency of the UNSC.

“Russia is a everlasting member of the UN Safety Council and can train all of the rights which might be supplied by this, naturally, remaining a accountable member of the Safety Council and the UN as a complete,” he mentioned.

Talking concerning the month-long Russian presidency, Peskov promised that it will be “eventful.” 

Moscow’s everlasting consultant on the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, mentioned earlier this week that Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov would go to a number of conferences of the UNSC in April.

Russia has mentioned that the “signature occasions” organized as a part of its presidency will embody periods devoted to multipolarity, the scenario within the Center East, and the issue of uncontrolled arms provides across the globe.