Could this be the end of the United Nations? The international organization should shut its doors if it doesn’t act to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. In a March 5 video speech to the UN Security Council, the Ukrainian president described atrocities allegedly committed by Russian troops in his nation, particularly in the town of Bucha, near Kyiv. He went on to accuse the United Nations of allowing international law to crumble, with the severe declaration that “the UN can simply be dissolved” if it fails to act against Russia.
Condemnation
Zelensky began by outlining his accusations against the Russian military, detailing deaths and attacks, before asking, “How is this different from what the ISIS terrorists were doing in the occupied territory? Except that it is done by a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.”
This was followed by a condemnation and a call to action. “So where is the security that the Security Council must guarantee? There is no security. Although there is a Security Council, as if nothing happened. So where is the peace that the United Nations was created to guarantee?” Zelensky asked. “What is the purpose of our organization? To maintain peace. And to force to peace. Now the UN Charter is being violated literally from the first article. And if so, what is the point of all other articles?”
Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s representative in the Security Council, has vetoed any resolution on the Ukraine conflict – thus rendering the international body toothless, despite the will expressed by most members. In February, 11 of 15 member states supported a draft resolution to end the war and denounce Russia for violating international law. China, India, and the United Arab Emirates abstained, as did Russia, which wielded its veto power to reject the decree.
Zelensky urged the UN to change the way it operates, so that Russia no longer holds this measure of sway. “The UN system must be reformed immediately so that the right of veto is not a right to kill. So that there is a fair representation of all regions of the world in the Security Council,” he declared.
A Changing Order?
The Ukrainian leader predicted the collapse of the current internationalist order, unless the United Nations is willing to defend it:
“If this continues, the finale will be that each state will rely only on the power of arms to ensure its security, not on international law, not on international institutions. Then, the UN can simply be dissolved.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! Are you ready for the dissolving of the UN? Do you think that the time of international law has passed? If your answer is no, you need to act now, act immediately. The power of the UN Charter must be restored immediately.”
Zelensky concluded his speech by presenting the United Nations with three options: remove Russia’s power of veto and act to “establish peace,” reform itself in some way so that it can do so, or simply press the self-destruct button.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
A Replacement?
This is hardly the first time Ukraine's president has lambasted the international community for its lack of intervention in the conflict.
Zelensky has been pushing for his nation to join both NATO and the European Union (EU), yet despite his apparent embrace of these globalist organizations, he has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with them since Russia’s attack began.
During his March 16 address to US Congress, the Ukrainian president proposed that a new international body should be created – one designed to respond to world events within 24 hours. While the current global authority wields significant power and resources, the wheels of bureaucracy often move slowly and with many interested parties. According to Zelensky, a fast-moving organization, which he calls the “U-24” should be instituted to react to everything from military conflicts to epidemics, natural disasters and humanitarian crises, within a single day. Yet “react” does seem to be the key word; would any decisions made in such a short timespan lead to anything beneficial?
Zelensky told Congress:
“Today the people do not have such tools. Institutions should protect us from war but they unfortunately do not work. We need new alliances and we offer them. We propose to create an association, united for peace, a union of responsible countries to stop conflict immediately, provide all the necessary assistance in 24 hours, weapons if necessary, sanctions if necessary, humanitarian support, finances, everything you need to keep the peace and quickly to save the world, to save life … Remember how difficult it was for the world to do the simplest things just to get a vaccine against COVID to save lives, to prevent new strains. The world spent months, years doing things like that much faster to make sure there are no victims.”
Given the nuclear stakes of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and the various ill-conceived responses to the COVID-19 virus still fresh in the minds of people across the globe, how many would trust a group that could impose its will with a speed never before known? The United Nations may be toothless to stop the violence in Ukraine, but would lovers of liberty worldwide really hope to see a sharply fanged replacement?
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