The UN Security Council has failed in its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday, describing Moscow’s role as “morally bankrupt.”
Ardern, who has long argued against the Security Council veto powers held by the five permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, reiterated her call for reform of the body.
The UN’s “failure” over Ukraine was caused by Russia’s position with a veto in the Security Council, she said in an address to the Sydney-based Lowy Institute think-tank during a trade visit to Australia.
“We must reform the United Nations so that we don’t have to rely on individual countries imposing their own autonomous sanctions,” Ardern said.
Russia had used its place on the council to take a “morally bankrupt position in the wake of a morally bankrupt and illegal war”, she said, added that Russia must be held to account for its invasion.
Ardern called for the International Criminal Court in The Hague to get the resources it needs to probe and prosecute war crimes.
