Russia’s presidency of UN security council a ‘symbolic blow’, says Ukraine

A top Ukrainian official has criticised the “symbolic blow” of Russia assuming the rotating presidency of the United Nations security council.

Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, wrote on Twitter on Saturday: “It’s not just a shame. It is another symbolic blow to the rules-based system of international relations.”

Russia on Saturday took over the presidency of the UN’s top security body, which rotates every month.

The last time Moscow held the post was in February 2022, when its troops launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reports.

On Friday the Kremlin said it planned to “exercise all its rights” in the role.