Kremlin says it supports reform of UN Security Council

MOSCOW

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the UN Security Council needs transformation aimed at increasing its efficiency.

The reformation process demands the consent of all members and Russia stands for expanding the body with new states that have gained international influence, Peskov told reporters at a news conference in Moscow.

"This conversation should start, we have spoken about this many times," he said, adding that reformation needs "very complicated and lengthy negotiations."

Currently, the UN Security Council has five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US, each having the veto power. Ten members, meanwhile, are elected on two-year terms and have the status of non-permanent members.

Commenting on remarks by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the necessity of withdrawal of the Russian forces from Ukraine, Peskov said it shows Berlin does not understand the situation.

"These are Scholz's reflections. It is unlikely that these reflections indicate that the German side understands reality, understands the real state of affairs on earth," he said.

Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine in February last year to "denazify" and "demilitarize" Ukraine, and protect the Russian-speaking population of the neighboring country. The West, however, calls it "a war of aggression."