Kyiv: Russia's Presidency of UN Security Council 'a Bad Joke'

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. AFP file photo
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. AFP file photo
TT

Kyiv: Russia's Presidency of UN Security Council 'a Bad Joke'

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. AFP file photo
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. AFP file photo

Ukraine on Thursday said Russia's upcoming presidency of the United Nations Security Council this week was "a bad joke".

"Russian UN Security Council presidency on April 1 is a bad joke. Russia has usurped its seat; it's waging a colonial war; its leader is a war criminal wanted by the ICC for kidnapping children," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
"The world can't be a safe place with Russia at UNSC," he added.

The presidency rotates every month between the 15 member states.

Russia would hold little influence on the decisions but be in charge of setting the agenda.

Ukraine has called for Russia to be removed from the Security Council over its invasion launched in February last year.

Russia last chaired the council in February 2022 when the Kremlin ordered troops to Ukraine.



Iran Is Preparing to ‘Respond’ to Israel, Says Adviser to Supreme Leader

Ali Larijani, former chairman of the parliament of Iran, attends a press conference after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
Ali Larijani, former chairman of the parliament of Iran, attends a press conference after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Iran Is Preparing to ‘Respond’ to Israel, Says Adviser to Supreme Leader

Ali Larijani, former chairman of the parliament of Iran, attends a press conference after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
Ali Larijani, former chairman of the parliament of Iran, attends a press conference after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon November 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Iran is preparing to "respond" to Israel, Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to the country's supreme leader, said in an interview published by Iran's Tasnim news agency on Sunday.

On Oct. 26, Israeli fighter jets carried out three waves of attacks on Iranian military targets, a few weeks after Iran fired a barrage of about 200 ballistic missiles against Israel. Iran has previously vowed to respond to Isarel's attacks.