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In the United Nations General Assembly, the United States sided with Russia in voting against a resolution backed by European nations that condemns Russia’s aggressive actions and demands the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.
in Washington.
It was a significant defeat for the Trump administration at the 193-member international organization, whose resolutions are not legally enforceable but serve as a gauge of global public opinion.
The US then sought a vote on its original proposal in the UN Security Council, where resolutions are legally enforceable and it holds veto power along with Russia, China, Britain, and France. The vote in the 15-member council resulted in a 10-0 tally, with five European countries abstaining.
last week.
In order to put an end to the conflict, Ukraine’s leader, Zelenskyy, warned that if not resolved, the nation would be left without a leader to guide it forward. Zelenskyy countered that Trump was lost in a “disinformation space” created by Russia.
Key U.S. allies who were united with Washington on Ukraine just over a month ago are now finding themselves in disagreement with one another over the best course of action for the UN to call for an end to the conflict.
Monday’s initial vote in the General Assembly saw 93 countries support the Ukrainian resolution, with 18 voting against and 65 abstaining. This outcome represents a decrease in support for Ukraine, as previous General Assembly votes had seen over 140 nations condemn Russia’s aggression and call for an immediate withdrawal.
The assembly then focused on the US-drafted resolution, which acknowledges the “tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict” and urges an immediate end to the conflict, as well as a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, without mentioning Russia’s aggressive actions.
In a surprise move, France introduced three amendments, supported by more than several European countries, which state that the conflict was caused by a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.” The amendments reaffirm the assembly’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, and call for a peaceful resolution that adheres to the principles of the U.N. Charter.
Russia also proposed an amendment that would address the underlying causes of the conflict.
The amendments were ratified and the resolution was passed with a vote of 93 to 8, with 73 countries abstaining. Ukraine voted in favor, the United States abstained, and Russia voted against the resolution.
The Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mariana Betsa, stated that her country is exercising its right to defend itself in response to Russia’s invasion, which contradicts the United Nations Charter’s principle that countries must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations.
“As we commemorate three years of the devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine, we urge all nations to stand united and take a firm stance in support of the Charter, human rights, and a lasting peace achieved through the strength of our collective resolve,” she said. Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of achieving peace through a strong, assertive approach.
US Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea stated that several previous UN resolutions criticizing Russia and calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops “have not been able to halt the war,” which has “continued for much too long and at a terrible cost to the people in Ukraine, Russia, and other countries.”
“We need a resolution that shows all United Nations member states are committed to bringing a lasting end to the conflict,” Shea said.
The United Nations General Assembly has become the focal point for addressing Ukraine issues due to the 15-member Security Council being hindered by Russia’s ability to veto decisions.
The United Nations General Assembly has passed several resolutions since the Russian military crossed into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, to condemn the invasion and call for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces.
Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, stated to journalists recently that the initial U.S. resolution was “a good move.”
The resolution passed on Monday by the Ukrainian assembly emphasizes the need to carry out all previous assembly resolutions that were adopted in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It specifically notes the assembly’s call for Russia to withdraw all of its military forces immediately, completely, and without any conditions from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
The resolution restates the assembly’s commitment to Ukraine’s independence and also confirms that any territory gained through the threat or use of force will not be considered legally valid.
It urges “a de-escalation, an immediate halt to the fighting, and a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine” and reiterates “the pressing need to bring an end to the war by the end of this year.”
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AP Diplomatic Correspondent Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
