UN Security Council Public Debate “Rule of Law is Important” Opinions Continue, but Russia Rebuts

At the Security Council of the United Nations, an open debate was held under the theme of "rule of law", hosted by Japan as the chair country.

As Russia continued to invade Ukraine, many countries expressed the opinion that order based on international law, not force, was important, but Russia insisted that it was the West that violated international law.

At the beginning of the public debate on the 12th, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres referred to Russia's aggression against Ukraine and pointed out that "the annexation of another country's territory by the use of force or the threat of force is a violation of the UN Charter and international law." "It is more important than ever to preserve the rule of law. All member states have a responsibility," he said.

This was followed by Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi calling for the international community to unite under the principle of the rule of law.

Of these, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Thomas Greenfield said, "Russia's military aggression has no basis in international law. We must hold Russia accountable, just as those who do not respect their sovereignty and territory are held accountable." I complained.

In response, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Nebenzia, refuted the military invasion and argued, "Western countries have unilaterally attacked Iraq and the former Yugoslavia in the past, violating international law."

China's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, also criticized Western sanctions against Russia, North Korea, and other countries, saying, "There is no basis in international law to impose unilateral sanctions on some countries."

All member states of the United Nations can participate in the public debate of the Security Council, and more than 70 countries are expected to speak this time.