Russia does not belong on the United Nations Security Council

Echo opinion letter published in the NWI.com The Times of Northwest Indiana newspaper. 

As I understand it, the UN Charter grants a permanent seat on the UN Security Council to China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Peace for Ukraine poster

The Soviet Union no longer exists. Russia acquired that seat. But Russia has proven that it is not interested in pursuing the core purpose of the UN, which is promoting peace. Why can’t the UN vote to remove Russia from that seat and install Ukraine to that position? Ukraine was the second most-populated area of the old Soviet Union, and Ukraine has demonstrated its willingness to pursue peace in accordance with UN purposes and goals. Ukraine should replace Russia on the Security Council seat which was held by the Soviet Union.

There is a precedent for the removal of one country from the Security Council and installation of another. When the UN voted to remove nationalist China and install communist China on the security council, nationalist China was not allowed to block that vote with a veto. So there is precedent for the UN not to allow a member of the Security Council to veto a vote on that country’s removal from the Security Council.

The U.N. should remove Russia from the Security Council and replace it with Ukraine to weaken and embarrass Putin, Russia and the Russians who behaved like barbarians towards Ukraine and its people.

From Woodrow Wilcox, Dyer, Indiana