US Aligns with Russia on UN Resolutions Regarding Ukraine Invasion: What It Means for Global Diplomacy

Recently, the US made headlines by siding with Russia in votes at the United Nations, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This shift shows a significant change in approach since the Trump administration took office.

First, the US and Russia united to oppose a resolution from European nations. This resolution condemned Russia’s actions and supported Ukraine’s territorial rights. Despite this opposition, the UN General Assembly approved the European draft.

Next, both countries backed a US-designed resolution in the UN Security Council that called for an end to the conflict. However, this resolution did not include any criticism of Russia. The vote passed, but key US allies like the UK and France chose to abstain. They had tried to revise the resolution’s language, but their efforts were blocked.

This discord surfaced during a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron to Donald Trump at the White House, where they discussed their differing views on the war. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is also set to visit the US leader soon, indicating ongoing tensions within the transatlantic alliance.

Trump’s administration has altered the long-standing partnership with Europe, raising questions about America’s commitment to European security. This was evident during discussions at the UN General Assembly, where US diplomats promoted a more vague resolution mourning the loss of life during the “Russia-Ukraine conflict” and calling for its end. In contrast, European diplomats proposed a detailed resolution that placed the blame squarely on Russia for the invasion and supported Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa emphasized the need to condemn Russia’s aggression, stating that such actions should not be rewarded. The European resolution received backing from 93 members of the UNGA, yet the US voted against it alongside a few other nations. The US did not abstain, a notable departure from expected support for European allies. The US resolution eventually passed but only after it was modified to include support for Ukraine, leading the US to abstain from the final vote.

At the UN Security Council, which consists of only 15 members, the US resolution, unchanged, garnered 10 votes while the UK, France, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia opted to abstain. Dorothy Camille Shea, the acting US envoy to the UN, described the resolution as a hopeful statement focused on ending the war rather than addressing past actions.

This significant divide highlights an unusual moment of discord between the US and its European allies. Since the invasion began three years ago, the Security Council has struggled to take decisive action due to Russia’s veto power. As a result, the UN General Assembly has become the main platform for discussing the war, though its resolutions don’t carry the same weight as those from the Security Council.

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