White House urges Russia to act professionally during UN Security Council presidency

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the White House in the hours before U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union speech in Washington, U.S. February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday urged Russia to conduct itself professionally when it assumes its scheduled UN Security Council presidency next month, saying there was no means to block Moscow from the post.

"We urge Russia to conduct itself professionally," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a news briefing. "We expect Russia to continue to use its seat on the council to spread disinformation" and justify its actions in Ukraine.