On Monday, Russia defended itself in the face of a torrent of criticism for assuming the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of April, stressing that it would not take advantage of its position.

"We do not abuse the powers of the presidency. The national position is one thing, and performing the role of presiding over the council is something else," Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia said at the press conference held at the beginning of the council's rotating presidency.

On Saturday, Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, according to the rules in force, which stipulate the transition of the presidency periodically every month, according to the alphabetical order of the member states.

Russia's assumption of the rotating presidency of the Security Council drew criticism, especially from Kiev, which described the matter as a "slap to the international community" and to Ukraine's allies.

On Monday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a press conference, "As you know, Russia presides over the Security Council as of April 1.

It's like an April Fool's joke."

And she continued, "In fact, the position shifts periodically. We expect them to act in a professional manner (...) But we also expect them to use their seat to spread disinformation and promote their own agenda with regard to Ukraine, and we are ready to confront them every time they try to do so."
For months, Kiev and Western capitals have been denouncing Russian "propaganda" about Ukraine.

Nebenizah said that this position is at the heart of the "Western narrative," accusing Kiev's allies of "disseminating misinformation," especially "about the situation of Ukrainian children who were allegedly kidnapped in Ukraine and forcibly transferred to Russia."

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes over the illegal deportations of Ukrainian children.

The Russian ambassador to the United Nations stressed that this indictment is "stupid" and "illegitimate," noting that Nebenzia is holding an informal meeting at the United Nations on this issue on Wednesday.

The Presidency of the Security Council gives some authority over the agenda, but Russia's permanent membership gives it the ability to call emergency meetings whenever it wants to.

The country that holds the rotating presidency of this body usually holds two or three meetings on topics of its choosing.

Russia announced that its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will chair a meeting on April 24 on "Defending the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

And on Monday, Assistant British Ambassador to the United Nations James Kariuki commented on this session, to be chaired by Lavrov, by saying that "Russia is not in a position to talk about international law or the values of the United Nations."