U.S. downgrades level of representation in UNSC during Russia’s presidency

This was reported by Politico with reference to a State Department official, according to Ukrinform.

That has meant sending lower-ranking diplomats, rather than U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, to certain sessions. Those diplomats have then walked out at key points, said the official, who was granted anonymity to describe sensitive diplomatic conversations.

Also, Thomas-Greenfield skipped a traditional breakfast the Russians hosted to mark the start of their rotating presidency on April 3.

According to the official, all this indicates the necessity of Washington's stated goal of changing the structure of the United Nations.

“It is crazy that Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council after they grossly violated the UN Charter,” the official said. “This is really one of many manifestations of how the Security Council and the UN broadly need reform.”

The United Nations is accustomed to oddity, absurdity and a certain amount of hypocrisy, the publication notes, noting that “the eye-rolling is hitting epic levels this month as Russia has taken over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council and used it to defend its war on Ukraine.”

On April 5, the Russian Federation held an Arria meeting meeting to justify the abduction of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine.

On April 10, Russia organized an open debate to accuse Western nations of supplying weapons to Ukraine.

On Monday, April 24, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, will preside over the UNSC meeting dedicated to the protection of the principles of the UN Charter, in particular, the prevention of wars.

“They’re trying to troll us,” an American official familiar with the U.S. operations at the United Nations said in describing the Russian tactics. “They’re picking topics where they know some of their most egregious actions in this war are centered, and they’re trying to flip the narrative on its head. We’re not going to fall for it.”

The publication recalls that Russia previously chaired the Security Council in February 2022, when it unleashed a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

As reported, in April, Russia is chairing the UN Security Council this month on a rotational basis. This role will be played by Switzerland in May, and by the UAE in June.

The Security Council consists of five permanent members of the UN, the United States, Great Britain, France, China, and Russia (the latter occupying the place of the Soviet Union), who have the right to veto, as well as 10 member countries on rotation.