The Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations has asked an amazing question that has not been resolved. When the UN was organized, the winners of World War II made themselves permanent members of the UN Security Council giving each the authority to override any decision made by the Council. Ten other countries serve on Council on a two year rotating basis. A simple no vote kills any motion.

            At the time of the North Korea’s invasion into the South, Russia was boycotting the UN. Without their veto, the UN ordered troops of member countries to go into South Korea to save South Korea. Stalin was furious at his mistake but blamed others.

            Why is this important today? It seems the seats listed in the UN charter are for the Republic of China (Taiwan now) and the Soviet Union. When the non-Communist Chinese left China moving to Taiwan they kept the seat. In In 1971, the seat was given to the People’s Republic on the mainland. However the UN has a clause on new countries waiting to join. The USSR broke up into 15 new countries which were given membership. Russia assumes the USSR seat on the council without the necessary vote.

            The Ukraine Ambassador has proposed that China and especially Russia has no legal position on the council. Membership is supposed to go to only peace loving countries and with Russia invading one country after another, it does not qualify.