Russia Takes Over UN Security Council Presidency for the Month

On a monthly basis, new members are rotated into the United Nations Security Council presidency. This month is Russia’s turn, which makes Vladimir Putin the president. Although this move may have annoyed most of the NATO allies in the United Nations, it was particularly bothersome for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski. He addressed the press last night, calling the move “absurd and destructive” in light of the fact that a Russian missile strike killed a five-month-old child just a day prior. Zelenski’s Foreign Minister joined him in protesting Russia’s presidency, calling it a “slap in the face to the international community.” However, since the position is mostly ceremonial, it is unlikely that Putin will be attending any meetings anytime soon. (Politico)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin taking on the rotating monthly presidency of the 15-member United Nations Security Council came just after a young boy was killed by artillery launched by Moscow’s invading forces.

“Unfortunately, we… have news that is obviously absurd and destructive,” Zelensky said in his daily address. “Today, the terrorist state began to chair the U.N. Security Council.”

Zelensky announced that a five-month-old child named Danylo was killed by Russian munitions in Donbas on Friday. “One of the hundreds of artillery strikes that the terrorist state launches every day,” the Ukrainian leader said. “And at the same time, Russia chairs the U.N. Security Council.”

There is no denying that Zelensky makes a valid point. The UN Security Council’s charter calls for the promotion of “the maintenance of international peace and security.” Appointing as president the person who ordered the invasion of a neighboring country and launched a war now entering its second year is a clear irony at best. However, this recent absurdity highlights the overall uselessness of the United Nations as a whole.

Even the current membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council has some of the most autocratic countries guilty of massive human rights abuses as members, including China and the United Arab Emirates. (And Russia, of course.) The UN is plagued by similar examples.

But how likely is it that Vladimir Putin will actually attend any meetings? The International Criminal Court recently issued an arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes committed in Ukraine, and while the court isn’t technically a part of the UN, it runs pretty much in parallel. Wouldn’t other council members feel obligated to slap handcuffs on Putin if he showed up?

If someone had the audacity to arrest Putin, Russia would almost certainly retaliate, potentially escalating the conflict to dangerous levels. However, Putin might show up to prove a point, which would make for an interesting twist to this story. Even more ironic is that the last time Russia held the presidency of the Security Council was in February 2022. That was also the month Putin initiated the invasion. He’s probably laughing at the situation now.