Despite the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine since last year, Russia has assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Although Ukraine urged the members to restrict the move, the plea was unheard of.
Russia had assumed the presidency of the UN Security Council previously in 2022, and at that time Moscow had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine weakening the already unstable relationship between Russia and Ukraine.
The presidency of the Security Council rotates monthly, and each member country takes turns serving as president for that month. The organizational body constitutes of 15 members.
During its presidency, Russia will have the power to set the agenda for the Security Council and preside over its meetings. This includes convening meetings on issues related to international peace and security, such as conflicts, humanitarian crises, and terrorism.
There are also concerns about Russia’s ability to effectively carry out its duties as president of the Security Council. Some critics argue that Russia’s recent actions in Syria and its strained relations with Western nations could limit its ability to lead discussions and make decisions in the Security Council.
However, the upcoming presidency of Russia has been met with concern and criticism, particularly from Ukraine.
Ukraine was furious over the decisions as it meant that the organizational body will be headed by an individual who is allegedly responsible for war crimes. The person in question is Vladimir Putin, who was subject to allegations of committing war crimes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Russia’s presidency “absurd” and raised concerns about Russia’s actions towards Ukraine, such as the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea.
According to reports, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against President Putin and one other Russian official due to the allegations of possible commitment to war crimes. According to the allegations, Putin and the Russian official deported Ukrainian children to Russia without their will.
Moscow denied all allegations and claimed that the children were transported purely based on humanitarian purposes. They were transported under a child program sponsored by Kremlin.Â
Russia assuming the UN security council has only increased the tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict is a long-standing and complex issue that began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The conflict escalated into a full-blown war between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
The relationship between Ukraine and Russia has been strained for decades due to historical, cultural, and political differences. The annexation of Crimea by Russia has only worsened the relationship, with Ukraine and many other countries accusing Russia of violating international law. The conflict in eastern Ukraine is also seen as a proxy war between Ukraine and Russia, with Russia allegedly providing military and financial support to the separatists.
Efforts to resolve the conflict have been ongoing, including ceasefire agreements and peace talks. However, a lasting resolution has yet to be reached, and tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to simmer. The conflict has also had wider geopolitical implications, with Russia’s actions leading to international sanctions and increased tensions with Western countries.
In addition to this, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met with Xi Jinping in Moscow which was condemned by Ukraine and the United States of America. Soon after the meeting, Russia launched a drone attack on Ukraine which resulted in the deaths of several Ukrainians and some infrastructural damage.
Despite these concerns, Russia has stated that it is committed to working with other Security Council members to address issues related to international peace and security during its presidency. The international community will be watching closely as Russia assumes this important leadership role within the United Nations.
