April 3, 2023
QUESTION: Ambassador, are you expecting any trouble from Russia during the month [inaudible]?
AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD: So, as you know, Russia is assuming its seat as president of the Security Council. Started on April 1. It’s like an April Fool’s joke. But the truth of the matter is it’s a rotating seat. We expect that they will behave professionally. But we also expect that they will use their seat to spread disinformation and to promote their own agenda as it relates to Ukraine, and we will stand ready to call them out at every single moment that they attempt to do that.
QUESTION: They’re bringing Foreign Minister Lavrov here. One: Are you going to give him a visa? Two: Will you attend, at what level, those high level meetings that he’s planning to be the chair of.
AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Look, I’m not surprised that they have asked the foreign minister to come. We haven’t decided yet on what our attendance levels will be, but we intend to carry out the business of the Security Council during this month. The Security Council does more than Ukraine. We work on many issues, and we again expect that Russia will carry their presidency in a professional way, but when they don’t we will stand ready to call them out.
QUESTION: Any idea of calling for Russia to recuse itself during meetings on Ukraine?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: We’re going to continue to hope that the Council operates in a professional way. And we stand ready to do whatever is necessary as the Council’s work –
QUESTION: Is there going to be a meeting on Ukraine during the Russian presidency?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: I suspect that there will be a meeting on Ukraine during Russia’s presidency.
QUESTION: [inaudible] – because Secretary Blinken had talked on the phone with Mr. Lavrov. Are you going to meet him to follow up on that or any plans?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: I don’t have any plans to meet with the foreign minister during his visit here to New York. But the Secretary was very clear in his conversation with the foreign minister related to the arrest of the Wall Street Journal journalist.
QUESTION: Ambassador, is the U.S. planning to propose any kind of draft resolutions or do you have any specific issues that you think you’ll be addressing during this period with the Russians?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: There’s nothing specifically that I can share with you now concerning our plans, but we will be prepared to do whatever is necessary.