WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), joined Sen. Marsha Blackburn, (R-Tenn.)
and others today in introducing a joint resolution urging the Biden
administration to remove Russia from the United Nations Security Council. The
resolution was also cosponsored by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy
Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Wicker
(R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.). Representative Claudia
Tenney (R-N.Y.) introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives.
“Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine and barrage of threats against
countries that have come to Ukraine’s aid fly in the face of the UN Security
Council’s mission to maintain international peace and security. It’s absurd to
see Russia remain in the UN Security Council, let alone preside over meetings
on its own malicious invasion of its neighbor. I’m glad to join Sen. Blackburn
and my colleagues on a resolution calling on the United Nations to hold
Vladimir Putin accountable, and remove Russia from the Security Council,” Grassley
said.
“The Russian government is actively killing innocent Ukrainian
civilians, committing war crimes, and invading sovereign territory
unprovoked. At the same time, Moscow is driving
decisions in the United Nations through its role as a Permanent
Member of the Security Council. Russia must be exiled from the
international community. Putin is attempting to rebuild the Soviet Union and
his ambassador should not be allowed to veto the United Nations’
response to Russian aggression. The Russian Federation is a direct threat to
global security and the sovereignty of our international partners,” Blackburn said.
“Russia is setting a new and dangerous precedent by abusing its role on
the UN Security Council to shield itself from accountability for its blatantly
illegal and unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country. This resolution is
certainly a tall order given the procedural hurdles it faces in the Security
Council, but it does not mean Congress should back down. If international
bodies are to garner the trust of the American people, symbolic efforts such as
this are vital. We must call out the hypocrisy of Russia’s actions, and force
Moscow to publicly defend its continued position on such an important body
given its reckless actions and increasingly rogue status on the international
stage. A country willing to take such blatant steps to provoke war, jeopardize
the safety of civilians, and undermine the sovereignty of a founding UN member
state should not retain its powerful position as a Permanent Member of the
Security Council. I stand in strong support of the Ukrainian people and will
continue to push for a robust diplomatic response to Vladimir Putin’s evil
actions,” Tenney said.
"Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine
violates the principal purpose of the U.N. Security Council, namely to uphold
international peace and security among nations. That alone is reason enough to
strip Russia of its permanent membership on the council," Hyde-Smith
said.
“Putin’s unjustifiable and unlawful invasion of Ukraine has violated the
sovereignty of a free country and American partner. Now, Russia is shamelessly
using its position on the UN Security Council to block action that holds it
accountable for this is a blatant act of war. The United States must stand on
the side of freedom and do everything possible to remove Russia from this
position of power it has so clearly abused and does not deserve,” Scott said.
“The world saw a charade at the U.N. last week as Vladimir Putin—a
dictator and thug who is actively and ruthlessly invading a sovereign
nation—blocked the Security Council’s resolution to condemn the unprovoked
atrocity happening against the people of Ukraine right now. Putin has
demonstrated in plain view his ruthlessness and complete disregard for humanity
and our international norms, and the idea that he and his cronies should have a
vote on the U.N.’s Security Council is an absolute disgrace. Russia should be
expelled from the Security Council immediately,” Ernst said.
“Putin is a thug, and he must be held accountable for his attack on the
sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Russia should not be on the UN
Security Council,” Daines said.
BACKGROUND:
- This
resolution urges the Biden Administration to take all steps necessary to
remove the Russian Federation as a Permanent Member of the United Nations
(UN) Security Council.
- Removing
Russia’s status as a Permanent Member of the Security Council eliminates
Moscow’s veto power over Security Council Resolutions.
- Allowing
Russia to retain its permanent position despite its abuse of international
law threatens the very credibility of the Security Council and undermines
the fundamental values of peace and security on which the United Nations
is built.
- It is
also possible that the USSR’s seat was never properly transferred to the
Russian Federation, as there was not a formal process such as amendment of
the UN Charter after the fall of the Soviet Union.
- Moscow
was granted its seat on the Security Council on the basis of the UN’s
legal office, with no action ever taken by the General Assembly to
formally approve it.
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