Kyiv - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday criticized Russia's assumption of the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council, calling it absurd and demonstrating the institution's "total bankruptcy."

Moscow took over the role on Saturday, which rotates every month, despite launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine when it last held the post in February 2022.

Zelenskiy condemned the move, especially after a five-month-old boy was killed in a Russian shelling attack on Friday. The Ukrainian president said that it was hard to imagine anything more indicative of the total bankruptcy of institutions than Russia chairing the U.N. Security Council at the same time as shelling Ukraine.

The Kremlin plans to "exercise all its rights" in the role, but the United States has urged Russia to act professionally. Zelenskiy also called for a reform of global institutions to prevent terrorist states from destroying the peace.

The Ukrainian president's comments reflect growing concern among many about the state of international institutions and the ability of the United Nations to function effectively in the face of aggressive actions by member states.

Meanwhile, Zelenskiy's advisor, Andriy Yermak, criticized Iran for allegedly supplying weapons to Russia, calling both countries "terror states" and condemning Russia's presidency coinciding with Iran's Islamic Republic Day holiday.

The criticism of Iran reflects ongoing tensions between Ukraine and the Islamic Republic, as Kyiv and its allies accuse Tehran of supporting Russia's military actions against Ukraine. Tehran has denied any involvement in supplying arms to Russia.

Zelenskiy's call for reform of global institutions to prevent terrorist states from destroying the peace highlights the challenges facing the international community in dealing with rogue states and preventing them from using their power to destabilize the world order.

The United States has expressed concern about Russia's takeover of the U.N. Security Council presidency but has acknowledged that there is no means to block Moscow from the post. With tensions high in Eastern Europe, it remains to be seen how the U.N. Security Council will function under Russian leadership and whether the international community can effectively respond to Russian aggression in Ukraine.