Kyslytsya slams UN Security Council for its impotence over crisis caused by Russian invasion

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya has criticized the UN Security Council for its impotence in resolving the crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

That's according to Ukrinform's correspondent in New York.

Since January, the Security Council has held more than a dozen meetings on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Kyslytsya said. "We all value our time, so let me ask you – how do our meetings influence those who occupy a seat that the Charter still allocates to another, already defunct, entity?" he said, referring to the provision that the USSR, not Russia was given the status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Kyslytsya also said that these meetings do not affect either the security situation on the frontline or the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

He stressed the importance of providing assistance to Ukraine at the bilateral level.

"Are you ready to relegate the role of the Security Council in addressing the worst security crisis on the European continent since the Second World War to discussions only?" the ambassador said.

He urged the Security Council to "seriously address the issue of how to solve the problem of Russia's dubious presence in this chamber that impedes the Council's effectiveness in exercising its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security."

According to Kyslytsya, the Security Council's inability to influence Russia's war against Ukraine is due to the fact that "the Security Council continues to pretend that Russia is a full and legitimate permanent member."

In his opinion, the role for this body will not change "if an answer is not found soon."

The UN Security Council on Tuesday discussed the humanitarian situation in Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion.