US Stands Alone: Refuses to Hold Russia Accountable for Ukraine War, Diverges from European Allies in UN Votes

In a significant change in U.S. foreign policy, the Trump administration broke away from its European allies by refusing to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine. This occurred during U.N. votes that aimed to address the ongoing war, now in its third year.

President Trump’s direct negotiations with Russia surprised both Ukraine and its European supporters, as they were not included in the discussions. In a U.N. General Assembly session, the U.S. sided with Russia against a resolution that strongly condemned Moscow’s actions and called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.

When a competing resolution from the U.S. was altered to include clear language about Russia’s aggression, the U.S. chose to abstain from voting on it. This vote coincided with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion and the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Washington.

This moment marked a setback for the Trump administration at the U.N. The U.S. then presented its original resolution in the U.N. Security Council, where it secured a vote of 10-0, with five European nations abstaining.

These voting patterns underscore rising tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine. Trump labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” for not holding elections during the war, as parts of Ukraine remain under Russian control. Furthermore, Trump falsely suggested that Ukraine instigated the conflict and indicated urgency in negotiating for peace.

Zelenskyy countered that Trump was influenced by Russian disinformation. Following the Macron meeting, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to visit, indicating shifting dynamics among former allies regarding the war.

The General Assembly voted 93 in favor and 18 against the resolution condemning Russia, lower than past votes that had seen over 140 nations support Ukraine. The U.S.-drafted resolution recognized the death toll from the conflict but failed to explicitly blame Russia.

France introduced changes to the U.S. resolution, explicitly pointing out Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and reaffirming the commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty. Amendments from Russia attempted to shift focus to the “root causes” of the conflict.

In the end, the assembly passed the resolution with 93 in favor, 8 against, and 73 abstentions. Ukraine supported the resolution while the U.S. abstained and Russia opposed it. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region, along with Canada and Mexico, stood by Ukraine, although Hungary diverged.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa emphasized her country’s right to self-defense against Russian aggression. She urged all nations to champion the principles of international law and humanity, advocating for a strong stance against Russia.

Britain’s U.N. Ambassador highlighted the danger of allowing Russia to prevail, indicating potential chaos in global order. Danish officials emphasized that any negotiations must involve Ukraine and Europe at the forefront.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea noted that prior U.N. resolutions condemning Russia had not halted the conflict, leading her to call for a resolution demonstrating commitment to a durable peace.

Russia vetoed European amendments during the Security Council proceedings, rendering the U.S. resolution somewhat hollow. However, Shea still viewed it as a step toward peace.

As the U.N. General Assembly gained prominence regarding the Ukraine situation, it has adopted several resolutions since the invasion began on February 24, 2022. The latest resolution reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and called for an immediate end to hostilities, stressing the necessity of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.