Kremlin Backs UN Security Council Reform, But Says Permanent Members and Veto Powers Should Remain

Sep. 22, 2026 A view of the Kremlin in Moscow. duma.gov.ru Russia supports reforms to the UN Security Council that would increase the number of permanent members but otherwise rejects proposals to abolish veto powers, the Kremlin said Tuesday. “We believe that the Security Council certainly needs to be reformed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing. However, Peskov said, Moscow still believes “this institution of permanent Security Council members, as well as the right of veto, is a very important element of the entire structure of the United Nations.” “And we maintain our commitment to this very important element,” he added. His comments followed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s renewed calls to abolish both permanent membership on the Security Council and the veto privilege ahead of the 81st UN General Assembly. The Security Council has been paralyzed on a number of critical issues in recent years amid deep divisions between the five veto-wielding permanent members: France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and the United States. Russia’s veto has prevented the Security Council from taking action to end the war in Ukraine. On Monday, a French-Mexican initiative to restrict permanent members from using their veto in cases of mass atrocities gained traction after the United Kingdom signed on, leaving the non-binding declaration one vote short of a two-thirds majority among UN members. At the UN General Assembly this week, the 15-member Security Council, which includes non-permanent members, may hold high-level meetings on AI and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, including talks with Arab leaders, diplomats said. Reuters and AFP contributed reporting. Read more about: United Nations Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Army Increasingly Killing Captured Ukrainian Soldiers, UN Says The UN also said it recorded one execution of a “wounded and incapacitated” Russian soldier by Ukraine’s armed forces last year. 1 Min read Ukraine Will Face Severe Hardship if Russia Targets Its Energy Grid This Winter, UN Warns “If they were to target the energy sector again, this could be a tipping point,” said Matthias Schmale, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine... 2 Min read What to Expect from Russia at COP29 The Russian delegation is expected to include nearly 50 representatives from the ministries of economic development, finance, agriculture and business... 2 Min read Forcing Russia Into Peace Would Be ‘Fatal Mistake,’ Kremlin Says Spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected remarks made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said that Russia “can only be forced into peace.” 2 Min read