The United States resisted an attempt to denounce Russian aggression and demand the rapid evacuation of Russian military from Ukraine, setting up a confrontation between the country and its longstanding European allies at the United Nations on Monday.
The United States secured agreement in the U.N. Security Council for its own resolution asking for a quick peace, without naming or blaming Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, after losing a vote on the issue in the U.N. General Assembly. Even though they are occasionally disregarded, Security Council decisions are regarded as legally obligatory, which supports President Trump’s efforts to negotiate a war ending.
The United States and some of its closest friends, such as Britain and France, were in different camps in the General Assembly and the Security Council on Monday. This was a striking public split between nations that have always stood together when it comes to the security of Russia and Europe. It illustrated the dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump and coincided with the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Following the Security Council decision, Dorothy Camille Shea, the United States’ acting chargé d’affaires, stated that the U.S. “resolution puts us to the path to peace.” “We need to use it now to create a peaceful future for Russia, Ukraine, and the global community.”
However, in defending its objection to the proposal, Britain’s envoy, Barbara Woodward, stated: “The terms of the peace must send a message that aggression does not pay.” For this reason, Russia and Ukraine cannot be compared in the way this council describes the conflict.
Ukraine submitted a three-page resolution at the UN that demanded Russian departure, a “comprehensive, lasting and just peace,” and responsibility for Russia’s war crimes. This was the start of the standoff.
According to a senior U.N. official and three western diplomats, the Trump administration sought to get Ukraine to revoke its resolution last week and then tried to work with European partners to come up with a wording that it would accept.
However, the United States informed its European partners during discussions on Friday afternoon that it would instead propose its own resolution. A few days prior, President Trump had incorrectly claimed that Ukraine was the cause of the war and referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator.”
The decision by their old partner to turn against them and quit the negotiations infuriated European diplomats.
Three brief paragraphs made up the U.S. resolution. It didn’t denounce the invasion or bring up Russia’s actions. The U.S. “implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia,” the statement read, lamenting the deaths on both sides.
By a vote of 93 countries in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstention, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Ukrainian resolution when it debated the conflicting motions on Monday. The Assembly erupted in cheers.
Russia, the United States, Israel, Hungary, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Niger were among the 18 nations who voted against Ukraine’s motion.
