Russia Assumes UN Security Council Presidency for April 2023
In a move that has been criticized by Ukraine and the United States, Russia has assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of April. While Russia would hold little influence on decisions, it would be in charge of setting the agenda.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is planning to chair a UN Security Council meeting on “effective multilateralism” and will also lead a debate on the Middle East on April 25. The United States has criticized Russia’s role and its permanent seat on the Security Council, with White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stating that “a country that flagrantly violates the UN Charter and invades its neighbor has no place on the UN Security Council.” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has also called Russia “an outlaw on the UNSC” and urged current members to thwart any Russian attempts to abuse its presidency.
The presidency rotates every month between the 15 member states, and Moscow last chaired the council in February 2022. Kuleba has called Russia’s Security Council presidency “a bad joke”, while Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, has stated that it is an opportunity for Russia to highlight the importance of multilateralism in international relations.
