The US and UK are exploring ways to oust Russia from its various roles at the United Nations, accusing Moscow of “mounting human rights abuses” in Ukraine.

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, questioned whether Russia should be allowed to hold onto its seat on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“Russian strikes are hitting schools, hospitals, and residential buildings,” Mr Blinken said in a video address. “Reports of Russia’s human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law mount by the hour.

“One can reasonably ask whether a UN member state that tries to take over another UN member state, while committing horrific human rights abuses and causing massive humanitarian suffering, should be allowed to remain on this council,” he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the UK Government is open to removing Russia as one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, which Moscow chaired until March 1.

“I think it’s something we want to discuss with the UN obviously,” the spokesperson for Mr Boris told The Telegraph.

The Security Council has 15 members, of which five are permanent – the UK, the US, France, China and Russia.

Legal experts suggested Western powers could use a potential loophole if Russia did not properly inherit the USSR’s seat at the Council.

If Russia had been considered a new state in 1991 instead of the successor to the Soviet Union, it would have been required to apply for membership at the UN, which it did not.