(United Nations) The UN Secretary General on Monday denounced at a Security Council chaired by the Russian Foreign Minister the “devastation” of Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion “in violation” of international law .
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine, in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, is causing massive suffering and devastation to the country and its people, adding to the global economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Antonio Guterres told Sergei Lavrov, who was chairing a Council meeting on the “defence of the principles” of the UN Charter.
“The multilateral system is under greater strain than at any time since the creation of the United Nations,” Antonio Guterres stressed, pointing to “the highest tensions” between “the great powers”.
“We are facing unprecedented interlocking crises,” he added, warning of “the risks of conflict, through misadventure or misjudgment.”
Russia assumes the presidency of the Security Council in April and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the trip to chair this meeting, one of the “signature” events of this presidency.
In the concept note sent to member states on this meeting, Russia denounces the “unipolar world order that took hold” after the end of the Cold War, “threatening the effectiveness and stability of the United Nations system”. .
“Today, another systemic transformation is at work: the unipolar world order is naturally reaching its limits and rapidly declining, while a new multipolar system is emerging,” the text adds.
“By organizing this debate, Russia is trying to present itself as a defender of the UN Charter and of multilateralism. Nothing could be further from the truth, it’s cynical,” EU Ambassador Olof Skoog told reporters.
