First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky told reporters that Russia had not supported the program proposed by the US for the UN Security Council in August.
The United States chairs the UN Security Council in August. “Russia did not support the program of the US chairmanship this month,” the diplomat said, Tass reported.
The United States took over as the UN Security Council’s temporary chair on August 1. The new chair suggests a working program on the first day of each month, which other members should approve. However, the program itself is optional, and the approval of this document is merely a formality.
“The absence of a program will not prevent the Americans from carrying out their functions; it will simply make the process less convenient for them,” Polyansky said.
Russia took the presidency of the UN Security Council in February this year despite Ukraine urging members to block the move.
On a rotating basis, each of the 15 members of the council assumes the presidency for one month.
Despite Ukraine’s complaints, the US said it could not block Russia, a permanent council member, from taking the presidency.
The council’s other permanent members are the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and China.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Russia’s presidency “the worst joke ever for April Fool’s Day” and a “stark reminder that something is wrong with how international security architecture is functioning,” BBC reported.
It also said it is “a slap in the face to the international community”.
Despite Ukraine’s complaints, Russia took the presidency of the UN Security Council in February 2023.
