Republicans introduce joint resolution demanding Russia lose permanent seat on UN Security Council

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The United Nations holds a rare special session as Russia invades Ukraine

FIRST ON FOX: Several high-profile Republicans are introducing a joint resolution calling on President Biden to pressure the United Nations to strip Russia of its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, which gives Moscow a veto over the council's resolutions. 

The Republican effort, which Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn and New York Rep. Claudia Tenney are spearheading, comes after Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

"The Russian government is actively killing innocent Ukrainian civilians, committing war crimes, and invading sovereign territory unprovoked. At the same time, Moscow is driving decisions in the United Nations through its role as a Permanent Member of the Security Council. Russia must be exiled from the international community," Blackburn said in a statement. 

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"Putin is attempting to rebuild the Soviet Union and his ambassador should not be allowed to veto the United Nations’ response to Russian aggression. The Russian Federation is a direct threat to global security and the sovereignty of our international partners." 

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.  ((AP Photo/John Raoux))

Tenney added: "Russia is setting a new and dangerous precedent by abusing its role on the UN Security Council to shield itself from accountability for its blatantly illegal and unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country. This resolution is certainly a tall order given the procedural hurdles it faces in the Security Council, but it does not mean Congress should back down." 

In addition to Tenney and Blackburn, the resolution is co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa, Rick Scott of Florida and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi. 

The make-up of the UN Security Council has come under international scrutiny after Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution that denounced its invasion of Ukraine and called on it to withdraw.

Smoke and flames rise over a warehouse storing ammunition for multiple rocket launcher systems at a military base in the town of Kalynivka in Ukraine.  (Reuters)

The Soviet Union was written into the charter as one of the council's permanent five (P5) members.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia took its spot on the council — a move that went unchallenged. The council's presidency rotates on a monthly basis. Russia is the president for February and will be replaced by the United Arab Emirates in March. The U.S. will preside over the council in May.

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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield appeared to dismiss the possibility of Russia being removed from the Security Council when asked about it on Sunday. 

"Russia is a member of the Security Council. That's in the U.N. Charter," she said on CNN. "But we are going to hold Russia accountable for disrespecting the U.N. Charter."

Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed reporting