The world's financial institutions, mainly the United States and Europe, have severed ties and condemned Russia to economic ostracism for its invasion of Ukraine and violation of the United Nations Charter.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lashed out at the Russians, claiming that the military invasion launched on February 24 was "a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine" and that it was incompatible with the principles of the UN Charter.

The White House then announced that the United States and its allies will expel some Russian banks from one of the main international banking systems, an important step in an attempt to cripple the Russian economy.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court in The Hague has already announced plans to launch a war crimes investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has marked the start of a war with thousands of human losses, great destruction and the exodus of more than a million people.

In addition, the United Nations General Assembly approved by an overwhelming majority on March 2 a condemnation of Russia for the invasion, which was accompanied by the demand to Moscow for the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of all Ukrainian territory.

However, even though Russia has been politically and economically isolated as an international pariah, the UN General Secretariat continues its relationship with Russian companies, buying goods and services, mainly related to air transport, information and communication technologies (ICT) and catering. These purchases, to add to the paradox, are mainly intended for the 12 UN peacekeeping missions.

The approved budget for UN peacekeeping operations for the fiscal year from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 amounts to a staggering $6380 million. (A/C.5/75/25) and payments to Russian contractors will largely come out of this budget.

An equally valid question is: how will the UN pay for these purchases and services when Russians have been excluded from most of the international banking system.

In the last week of February, the United States, Canada and the European Union tightened financial restrictions on Russia with a new ban blocking seven Russian banks from using SWIFT, the system that allows a high portion of banking transactions. The aim of this measure is to incapacitate Russia from doing cross-border business.

According to the latest available figures, UN purchases from Russia amounted to about $132.3 million in 2020, with Moscow listed as the fifth largest supplier, behind the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Kenya and Switzerland.

The UN also has business ties with Russia's largest helicopter operator, UTair – Helicopter Services, described as one of the leading providers of aviation services to companies in the fuel and energy industry in addition to the United Nations.

There have also been rumors that some of the contracting companies have ties to Russian oligarchs and high-ranking political officials who have been harmed by U.S. and Western European sanctions.

But apparently not at the United Nations. An Asian diplomat called the situation "pure political hypocrisy."

On February 25, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that the United States is imposing an unprecedented cost on Russian President Vladimir Putin and those around him for his brutal and unprovoked attack on the people of Ukraine.

"We are united with our allies and partners in our commitment to ensure that the Russian government pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its new invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign and democratic state," he added. Meanwhile, the head of the U.N. Department of Operational Support did not respond to two messages seeking comment on the continuation of the U.N.'s trade and economic relationship with Russia.

But Farhan Haque, the UN's deputy spokesman, was more forthcoming, when he told IPS: "What we can say is that if specific UN sanctions were imposed on the Russian Federation, or sanctions against a particular company or its directors that affected its ability to act, of course we would comply with them."

However, the UN sets strict standards and guidelines on the ethical behavior of suppliers and contractors. But, the violation of a country's sovereignty and the invasion of a Member State are not part of those rules.

According to UN guidelines, suppliers and contractors must comply with the UN Code of Conduct for Suppliers and the UN General Conditions of Contract, in particular the provisions on sexual exploitation, child labor, discrimination, working conditions and harassment.

The UN Procurement Division also reminds the UN supplier community that, as a REGISTERED UN supplier, "it has accepted the UN Supplier Code of Conduct, which reflects the core values outlined in the UN Charter".

Meanwhile, the wave of killings in Ukraine by invading forces continues in Ukraine, mostly civilians. As of March 3, there were officially more than 250 dead and more than 550 wounded in the ongoing attacks by Russian military forces inside Ukraine.

The UN has warned that while the scale and extent of the displacements are still unclear, it expects more than 10 million people to flee their homes if violence continues, including four million people who could cross borders into neighboring countries, already triggering a major humanitarian crisis in Europe.

See, UN Political Hypocrisy: Multi-Million Dollar Purchases from Russia Continue

Photo. UN peacekeepers during one of their deployments around the world, which are partly provided by Russian companies, which has not changed despite the sanctions imposed by that country's invasion of Ukraine. © UN