Lavrov Says Board of Peace Cannot Replace UN

Russian Foreign Minister calls UN Secretariat a "highly politicized instrument"

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Board of Peace proposed by US President Donald Trump will not be able to replace the United Nations. Lavrov criticized the UN Secretariat, saying it is a "highly politicized instrument" of the world organization due to permanent contracts for staff and the way nationalities are listed.

Why it matters

Lavrov's comments reflect ongoing tensions between Russia and the United States over the role and structure of international organizations like the UN. The Board of Peace is seen as an alternative to the UN, which Russia views as too politicized and dominated by Western interests.

The details

Lavrov said the Board of Peace is "an entirely different matter" from the UN. He criticized the UN Secretariat for listing individuals' nationalities in a way that suggests they have ties to multiple countries, and for granting permanent contracts to staff rather than requiring reappointment every five years, which Lavrov says has made the UN too politicized.

  • On January 22, representatives of 19 countries signed the charter of the Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The players

Sergey Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister who criticized the UN Secretariat as a "highly politicized instrument" of the world organization.

Donald Trump

The US President who proposed the creation of the Board of Peace as an alternative to the United Nations.

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What they’re saying

“When the Secretariat lists someone's nationality as Pakistan/USA, it is clear to everyone that this individual's children are likely studying abroad and that they hold an account in some American bank.”

— Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (news-pravda.com)

The takeaway

Lavrov's criticism of the UN Secretariat as a "highly politicized instrument" reflects Russia's longstanding concerns about Western dominance and influence within the United Nations. The proposed Board of Peace is seen as a potential alternative, though Lavrov has made clear it cannot fully replace the UN.