Congressman Cohen Expresses Concern at Helsinki Commission Hearing on the United Nations Inaction in Ukraine

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the House Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today questioned expert witnesses at a commission hearing entitled “Has the U.N. Failed Ukraine and the World?”

Congressman Cohen and Commission Chairman Joe Wilson (SC-2) introduced a resolution (H. Res. 267) in March calling for the removal of Russia from the U.N. Security Council saying the country violates the purposes and principles of the international organization.

Russia took the permanent member seat of the former Soviet Union in 1991 and with it veto power in the Security Council.

In his opening statement, Congressman Cohen said in part:

“What’s the purpose of the U.N.? Is it a debating society? We’ve got plenty of those at Princeton and Stanford and the University of Memphis. Why do we need a debate society in New York that costs so much money?...About every kind of effort to advance peace and humanitarian aid is killed in the Security Council because of Russia.”

Congressman Cohen also suggested Russia’s seat could be taken by India or Brazil.

See the entire opening statement here.

In his questions to Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Congressman Cohen asked him, “Have you ever had the urge to punch the Russian ambassador?” 

See Congressman Cohen’s entire exchange here.

Witnesses for today’s hearing were:

• Sergiy Kyslytsa, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations;
• Thomas Grant, University of Cambridge, Senior Research Fellow; and
• Natasha Hall, Senior Fellow, Middle East Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

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