Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Call for Russia to be Expelled from UN Security Council

Statement

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY) in introducing a joint resolution urging the Biden Administration to remove Russia from the United Nations Security Council.

"It's high time to remove Russia from the United Nations Security Council if for no other reason than the unwarranted and violent invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin's thuggery and aggression should have consequences at every level," said Senator Cramer.

"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," said Senator Blackburn. "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."

Senators Cramer and Blackburn were joined by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Steve Daines (R-MT) in cosponsoring this resolution.

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 UN 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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