Russia to boycott meeting between Security Council and EU committee, diplomats say

Russia will boycott Wednesday’s meeting between the UN Security Council and the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC), diplomats said, in another sign of deteriorating relations between Moscow and United Nations members.

The decision is related to the situation in Ukraine, according to a Russian diplomatic source who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a Western diplomat told AFP that he does not remember Russia boycotting a Security Council meeting since it invaded Ukraine on February 24.

The informal meeting held annually between the Security Council and the CPS has not been held since 2019, due to the covid-19 pandemic. Wednesday’s meeting is expected to discuss the European Union’s interaction with the UN in countries where both organizations are conducting operations.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, relations have rapidly deteriorated between Moscow and other UN countries.

Russia, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, has been expelled from several UN bodies, including the human rights council.

At a news conference on Tuesday, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, whose country will assume the presidency of the Security Council in May, said the council continues to function as normal.

The council has been “extraordinarily successful” in “isolating Russia” since late February, he said.

“Russia is isolated in the Security Council and every time we have a discussion in the Security Council involving Russia, they are on the defensive and we will continue to keep them on the defensive until they end their brutal attack on the Ukrainian people,” told reporters.