Image Courtesy: United Nations
Ukraine has asked for the removal of Russia as a permanent member of the United Nations. Ukraine in its statement has said that Russia illegally occupies the seat of the USSR in the UN Security Council, since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Currently, there is no mechanism to remove a permanent member. The United Nations charter does not contain a provision to remove a permanent member. However, Russia could be removed from the council upon the recommendation of all the members of the security council. Article 6 of the charter states; “A Member of the United Nations, which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter, may be expelled from the Organisation by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council,” Article 6 of the charter states.
The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic) was the original member of the United Nations since 1945. Russia officially took the position of USSR in January 1992 after its disintegration. Russia was recognized as a legal successor of the USSR.
The fifteen-member United Nations Security Council consists of five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. The council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Russian president recently expressed his willingness to end the war with Ukraine. “Our goal is not to spin the flywheel of military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war,” Putin said. “We will strive for an end to this, and the sooner the better, of course.”
Russia attacked Ukraine in February this year. Nations across the globe have condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Various countries have imposed sanctions on Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands, destroyed cities and brought the economy to its knee. The economy of Ukraine shrank by 37.5%.
