Abstract

Russia’s UN policies represent a combination of the pragmatic and ideational approaches. On the one hand, Moscow is guided by rather practical/material motives viewing the UN as an efficient instrument for protecting and promoting its national interests – both regionally and globally. In particular, Russia tries to use the UN for conflict prevention, management and resolution in its close geopolitical proximity. The UN (and especially its seat in the Security Council) is also important for the Kremlin in terms of ascertaining Russia’s great power status and gaining international authority and prestige. Moreover, the UN is viewed by Russia as a rather useful tool for containing the United States and other developed nations’ hegemonic aspirations and shaping a more just and safer world order. On the other hand, the UN is seen as a proper instrument to address global problems, such as sustainable development, conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict peace-building, arms control and disarmament, climate change mitigation, fighting global crime and international terrorism and so on. The Kremlin aims to represent itself as a responsible international player that tries to contribute to making the UN an efficient global governance institute.