21 May 2019 11:26

Russia's call for UNSC meeting on Ukrainian language law unrelated to Zelensky's inauguration - Nebenzya

NEW YORK CITY (UN). May 21 (Interfax) - Russia's call for discussing the law "On the Provision of the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the Official Language" at the UN Security Council on Monday is unrelated to Volodymyr Zelensky's inauguration as the Ukrainian president, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya told the press at the UN Headquarters.

"No," he said in response to the relevant question.

"The inauguration date was unknown at the time when Russia initiated [the meeting]," Nebenzya said.

Zelensky, who won the runoff election on April 21, was inaugurated as the Ukrainian president in Kyiv on May 20. The first round of the Ukrainian presidential election took place on March 31.