Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, announced that Moscow will convene an informal session of the UN Security Council on December 8 to discuss the events in Ukraine beginning in 2013. The remarks were reported by RIA News and echoed by observers around the UN system.
According to Nebenzya, the discussion will focus on the period commonly referred to as Euromaidan in Ukraine, with a roster of participants who were directly involved in those events offering their perspectives. This approach aims to provide a more personal, eyewitness account of the sequence of incidents, decisions, and public responses that unfolded during that time.
The meeting will adopt the Arria formula, a flexible format named after Venezuelan Ambassador Diego Arria, who pioneered its use in 1992 when he served as President of the UN Security Council. In this format, members of the Security Council may request the gathering and invite individuals who can shed light on the topic. The purpose is to enable a candid, private exchange of views within a permissive procedural framework, rather than a formal debate in the main Council chamber, and with participation limited to those the organizers deem relevant or informative.
Typically, Arria-formula gatherings occur in one of the UN meeting rooms rather than the Security Council chamber. Attendance is voluntary, and they are not listed in the United Nations Daily Journal. Additionally, UN Secretariat staff other than interpreters and the conference officer do not participate unless they have received an invitation from the organizers. This format is valued for its open dialogue and its potential to surface nuanced positions on complex international issues, especially in times of sensitive or rapidly evolving developments.
Earlier in the year, a separate Arria-formula session was held by the Russian Federation on January 20, continuing the use of this format to explore contentious or disputed aspects of international events in Ukraine and the surrounding region. The choice of this format reflects a preference for substantive, informal exchange aimed at clarifying perspectives and facilitating informed discussion among Security Council members and invited participants.
In related institutional developments, there has been ongoing discussion about terminology and framing of historical and contemporary events in the region. Various parliamentary bodies and state actors have referenced terms that carry political and social weight, underscoring the importance of precise language when addressing sensitive topics in international forums. This underscores the broader context in which formal and informal UN discussions are conducted, including how terms are introduced, interpreted, and debated among member states and observers.
The Russian delegation emphasizes the value of transparent, issue-focused dialogue within established UN procedures. By using the Arria format, the Security Council seeks to illuminate specific angles, including eyewitness accounts and on-the-ground experienced perspectives, while maintaining an atmosphere that supports frank exchange rather than formal adjudication. The goal is to contribute to a more rounded understanding of the events, their implications for regional stability, and the ongoing international response, within the norms of UN practice and international diplomacy.
Observers note that these informal briefings can influence subsequent formal Security Council actions, resolutions, or statements, depending on the insights shared and the reception by other council members. As such, the arrangement of the December 8 session signals a continued interest in the Ukrainian episode from a variety of angles, along with an acknowledgment that multiple narratives exist around the period in question. The format and participation will likely shape the conversation, frame questions for future inquiries, and contribute to the broader discourse on regional security, accountability, and the evolving policy landscape surrounding Ukraine and its neighbors.
Overall, the upcoming Arria-formula meeting exemplifies how major international bodies pursue nuance and depth when dealing with a charged historical moment. By bringing together participants with direct experience and different viewpoints, the session aims to illuminate the complexities at stake, while offering a forum for careful scrutiny of facts, timelines, and interpretations that influence policy decisions at the UN and beyond. The organizers have not disclosed the full list of invitees, a common practice in Arria-format gatherings, which preserves the flexibility to tailor the conversation to the most pertinent questions and concerns for Security Council members and the international community at large. [Source attribution: RIA News]