Speech to the UN Security Council
Zelenskyj is campaigning for Germany to become a permanent seat
September 20, 2023, 7:14 p.m
At the UN Security Council, Ukrainian President Zelensky sharply criticized the body. It would be at a dead end because of Moscow’s right of veto. Instead of Russia, other nations should be given a permanent place. He particularly highlights Germany.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the UN Security Council to be expanded to include more permanent members, including Germany. “Germany has become one of the most important global guarantors of peace and security,” said Zelenskyj in the UN Security Council. “This is a fact. It is also a fact that Germany deserves a place among the permanent members of the Security Council, that Latin America must be permanently represented there and also the Pacific states.”
The African Union must also have its place in the most important UN body. Asia also deserves a stronger presence. “It cannot be considered normal if countries such as Japan, India or the Islamic world remain excluded from permanent membership in the body.” It is unfair if billions of people are not represented there.
“The right of veto is in the hands of the aggressor”
Zelensky blamed Russia for the blockade of the peacekeeping and conflict resolution council. “The right of veto in the hands of the aggressor is what has led the UN to a dead end.” He complained that the United Nations was powerless. They responded to problems with “rhetoric” instead of “real solutions,” he said. “Humanity no longer pins its hopes on the UN to defend the sovereign borders of nations.”
The Security Council currently includes 15 of the 193 UN member states. Five nuclear powers are always present and have the right to veto all decisions: the USA, China, Russia, Great Britain and France. Some of the other 188 member states take turns in the remaining ten seats every two years.
Germany applies for a seat every eight years, the next time for 2027/28. The federal government also claims to be taken into account as Europe’s largest economic power if the number of permanent seats is expanded. For years, the committee has been considered largely unable to act due to mutual blockades by the USA, China and Russia on key issues. Fundamental reform of the Security Council has been discussed for decades without any progress
Mechanism to protect against aggression required
The Ukrainian president also called for a system that can respond early to attacks on the sovereignty of other states. “It is time for the nations of the world to agree on the kind of aggression response mechanism to protect others that everyone would want for their own security,” he said.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine showed what benefits such a mechanism could have and what effects powerful sanctions against an aggressor could have – in the phase of building up the invasion army. “Whoever wants to start a war should, before making his fatal mistake, see what exactly he will lose if the war were to begin.”
Shortly after his speech, Zelensky left the UN Security Council, at least for the time being. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov initially stayed away from the eagerly awaited meeting. However, Lavrov is expected to give the speech on behalf of his country.