Russian President Vladimir Putin leads a meeting with the government via video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, March 29, 2023.
Gavriil Grigorov | AFP | Getty Images
A senior Ukrainian official on Saturday criticized Russia’s “symbolic blow” because it assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.
“It isn’t just a shame. This is one other symbolic blow to the rules-based system of diplomacy,” Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine, tweeted in English.
On Saturday, Russia took over the chairmanship of the UN’s highest security body, which changes every month. The last time Moscow held this position was in February 2022, when its troops launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Kremlin said on Friday that it plans to “exercise all its rights” in the role.
On Thursday, the US urged Russia to “behave professionally” when it takes over the role, saying there was no approach to block Moscow from taking the position.
Ukrainian official Yermak also hit Iran, which Kiev and its allies accuse of supplying Russia with weapons, including tons of of attack drones that threaten Ukraine’s infrastructure facilities. Tehran denies supplying Russia with weapons.
“It is very telling that on the holiday of one terror state – Iran – one other terror state – Russia – he begins to preside over the UN Security Council,” Yermak wrote, referring to Iran’s Islamic Republic Day.