World War II demonstrated the necessity of collective security development. Many years ago the League of Nations didn’t manage to prevent one of the most tragically page of modern history. Thus, the League of Nations was substituted by more advanced organization, such as the UN.
But now, 60 years later, we see that history repeats itself. Observing the escalation of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, it is clear that even such an authoritative international organization, as the UN was, it is limited in the means of influence on the aggressor, neglecting all provisions of international law. International community is again powerless against the impending threat of full-scale war. The UN system, which was created in order to prevent the occurrence of interstate conflicts that threaten world security, is in need of fundamental reforms.
This international organization has to become a truly effective tool to promote mutual understanding between nations, conflict resolution and reconciliation. Its activities must meet the principles and objectives of a basis of organization. It must develop efficient mechanisms to identify threats to international security, be ready to prevent the occurrence of armed conflicts and other acts of aggression by one state against another, take effective measures to resolve disputes between states. As long as we can see all the good intentions are only on paper.
Russia, along with Britain, China, France and the United States is one of the founding countries of the UN. Like all the members of the international organization Russia pledged to promote peace and security throughout the world. However, at present we see how Russia, annexing the Crimea and unleashing war in the Donbas, veto any UN Security Council’s resolution condemning its actions with regard to Ukraine, and blocking any attempt to find peaceful ways of resolution of the crisis. There were no positive results in “shuttle” diplomacy of UN Secretary-General, who, after a visit to Ukraine – May 8, visited Russia. Along with the Ukrainian people, Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to all those who died in the World War II. Next day, May 9, even in spite of a mixed reaction of the international community, he traveled to Moscow to meet with Putin and attend the Victory Day parade on Red Square.. But this does not affected the position of the Russian president, who cynically and deliberately denies involvement in the armed conflict in Ukraine, calling it domestic.
The Resolution of the General Assembly to condemn the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation and the illegal annexation of the Crimea supported by more than one hundred UN member states had also no effect. The organization has not been able to adopt any resolution condemning Russia’s actions in respect of Ukraine. As a result, the conflict escalated into a military confrontation in the Donbas and led to thousands of civilian casualties, a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster. Not least important is a problem of peacekeepers in the South-East of Ukraine.
The essential problem in the UN is the permanent membership of the aggressor as a part of the UN Security Council. Having the right of veto, it is widely used.
These and many other things point to the fact that in the present circumstances the United Nations is simply not able to function effectively. In order the UN strives to remain an influential organization, the reform of the Security Council and the functioning of the structure are essential. The presence of the aggressor in the Organization does not allow going to the level of decisive action, and puts the world before the fact of the collapsing system of collective security.
In its present form the United Nations feels like a debating club where endless conversations end up with nothing. Meanwhile aggressor calmly uses gaps in the organization’s charter to his advantage.
But now, 60 years later, we see that history repeats itself. Observing the escalation of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, it is clear that even such an authoritative international organization, as the UN was, it is limited in the means of influence on the aggressor, neglecting all provisions of international law. International community is again powerless against the impending threat of full-scale war. The UN system, which was created in order to prevent the occurrence of interstate conflicts that threaten world security, is in need of fundamental reforms.
This international organization has to become a truly effective tool to promote mutual understanding between nations, conflict resolution and reconciliation. Its activities must meet the principles and objectives of a basis of organization. It must develop efficient mechanisms to identify threats to international security, be ready to prevent the occurrence of armed conflicts and other acts of aggression by one state against another, take effective measures to resolve disputes between states. As long as we can see all the good intentions are only on paper.
Russia, along with Britain, China, France and the United States is one of the founding countries of the UN. Like all the members of the international organization Russia pledged to promote peace and security throughout the world. However, at present we see how Russia, annexing the Crimea and unleashing war in the Donbas, veto any UN Security Council’s resolution condemning its actions with regard to Ukraine, and blocking any attempt to find peaceful ways of resolution of the crisis. There were no positive results in “shuttle” diplomacy of UN Secretary-General, who, after a visit to Ukraine – May 8, visited Russia. Along with the Ukrainian people, Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to all those who died in the World War II. Next day, May 9, even in spite of a mixed reaction of the international community, he traveled to Moscow to meet with Putin and attend the Victory Day parade on Red Square.. But this does not affected the position of the Russian president, who cynically and deliberately denies involvement in the armed conflict in Ukraine, calling it domestic.
The Resolution of the General Assembly to condemn the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation and the illegal annexation of the Crimea supported by more than one hundred UN member states had also no effect. The organization has not been able to adopt any resolution condemning Russia’s actions in respect of Ukraine. As a result, the conflict escalated into a military confrontation in the Donbas and led to thousands of civilian casualties, a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster. Not least important is a problem of peacekeepers in the South-East of Ukraine.
The essential problem in the UN is the permanent membership of the aggressor as a part of the UN Security Council. Having the right of veto, it is widely used.
These and many other things point to the fact that in the present circumstances the United Nations is simply not able to function effectively. In order the UN strives to remain an influential organization, the reform of the Security Council and the functioning of the structure are essential. The presence of the aggressor in the Organization does not allow going to the level of decisive action, and puts the world before the fact of the collapsing system of collective security.
In its present form the United Nations feels like a debating club where endless conversations end up with nothing. Meanwhile aggressor calmly uses gaps in the organization’s charter to his advantage.