Amidst Ukraine’s invasion, Russia assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of April, Al-Jazeera reported.
This was part of its monthly rotation among the Security Council’s 15 member states where Russia is expected to hold little influence on decisions but will be in charge of the agenda.
According to reports Moscow last chaired the council in February 2022, the same month it invaded Ukraine – prompting Kyiv to call for Russia’s removal from the council.
Ukrainian authorities have decried the development, branding Russia’s presidency of the UN Security Council for April “a symbolic blow”, thus joining a chorus of outrage from Western countries.
Through its Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, Moscow has said it plans to chair a UN Security Council meeting this month on “effective multilateralism”, with the minister leading a debate on the Middle East on April 25.