The United States on Monday joined Russia in voting against a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The move signalled a dramatic shift in US policy, aligning the country with Russia on the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
The resolution, backed by Ukraine and European nations, highlighted Russia’s continued military actions and their devastating consequences.
However, the US stood apart from its traditional European allies, later voting alongside Russia again on a separate UN Security Council resolution.
This US-proposed resolution did not explicitly name Russia as the aggressor or acknowledge Ukraine’s territorial integrity. While it passed, five European members of the Security Council withheld their support.
The US’ unexpected stance coincided with the Trump administration’s efforts to engage Moscow in talks aimed at ending the war. President Donald Trump has recently escalated his rhetoric toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, prompting European leaders to reassess their approach. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White House on Monday as part of these diplomatic shifts.
The General Assembly resolution was ultimately adopted with 93 votes in favour. It expressed concern over Russia’s full-scale invasion, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution.
The resolution also demanded that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
The US had put forward an alternative General Assembly resolution that avoided labelling Russia as the aggressor and instead urged a “swift end to the conflict” and “a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.”
This softer language mirrored the US resolution later introduced at the Security Council, which passed with 10 votes in favour, including Russia’s, while five European nations abstained.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya welcomed the passage of the US resolution, calling it a foundation for future peace efforts. “The text we passed is not an ideal one, but in essence, it is a first attempt to have a constructive and future-oriented product by the Council which is talking about the path to peace, rather than blowing the conflict up,” he said.
US charge d’affaires Dorothy Shea defended the resolution, describing it as the Security Council’s first concrete step toward ending the war. “This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one, one of which we should all be proud now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community,” she stated after the vote.
However, European representatives strongly criticised the move. French Ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Rivière warned, “There will be no peace and security anywhere if aggressions are rewarded, and if the law of the jungle wins.” UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward emphasised that a just peace must honour the UN Charter, stating, “Only a just peace, one that honors the terms of our charter, will endure.”
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Woodward further stressed that the Council must acknowledge the origins of the war. “If we are to find a path to sustainable peace, the Council must be clear on the war’s origins. We also owe it to the people of Ukraine, who have suffered so much,” she said. “Russia chose to launch a war of aggression against a sovereign state, but again, today, is seeking to obfuscate that fact.”
Earlier in the General Assembly session, Shea urged member states to support the US resolution, arguing that it provided a stronger commitment to ending the war. “The US cannot support Ukraine’s resolution, and we urge its withdrawal in favor of a strong statement committing us to end the war and work towards a lasting peace,” she said.
Despite its push for an alternative resolution, the US ultimately abstained from voting on its own proposal in the General Assembly. This decision came after several amendments were introduced to reinforce its language against Russia and reaffirm Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
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