Russia will take up the monthly presidency of the 15-member UN Security Council from today, despite its invasion of Ukraine that has seen mass destruction across the country.
Kyiv has lashed out at the development which is in line with a rotation that has not changed despite Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
“As of 1 April, they’re taking the level of absurdity to a new level,” Sergiy Kyslytsya, the Ukrainian permanent representative said.
“The Security Council as it is designed is immobilised and incapable to address the issues of their primary responsibility, that is prevention of conflicts and then dealing with conflicts,” he told The Guardian.
Ukraine’s ambassador will stay away from the Security Council in April except in the case of an “issue of critical national security interest”.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said its executive board had approved a four-year $15.6bn loan programme for Ukraine.
The loan is a part of a global $115bn package to support the country’s economy as it battles Russia’s ongoing invasion.
