In a surprising turn of events, the United States voted against a United Nations resolution urging Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine, while joining forces with Moscow to reject a Europe-backed Ukrainian proposal.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted two resolutions on Monday, calling for an end to the war in Ukraine, while rejecting a U.S.-drafted resolution that failed to mention Moscow‘s aggression.
A United Nations resolution is a formal decision made by the UN General Assembly or Security Council on a specific issue.
These resolutions are binding in international law and can take various forms, including declarations, recommendations, or decisions.
The process of adopting a resolution involves negotiation, consensus-building, and voting among member states.
Resolutions can address global issues such as peacekeeping, human rights, climate change, and sustainable development.
They often provide a framework for action, guidelines for implementation, and may establish new international norms.
According to the UN Charter, resolutions adopted by the Security Council are binding on all member states.
In a significant shift, the U.S., reflecting the turnaround under President Donald Trump, joined Russia in voting against a Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution. The U.S. then abstained from voting on its own resolution after Europeans succeeded in amending it.
Ukraine Demands Immediate Withdrawal of Russian Troops
The assembly first approved the Ukrainian resolution, which demands an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and calls Moscow‘s aggression a violation of the U.N. Charter. The vote was 93-18 with 65 abstentions, showing some diminished support for Ukraine compared to previous assembly votes.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has its roots in the country's complex history.
The two nations have a shared past, with Ukraine being part of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.
Since then, tensions have risen over issues such as territorial claims, language rights, and economic interests.
In '2014,' Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, leading to international condemnation and sanctions.
The conflict has continued to escalate, with ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region.
According to the United Nations, over 13,000 people have been killed since '2014.'
U.S.-Drafted Resolution Falls Short
The U.S.-drafted resolution acknowledges ‘the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict‘ and ‘implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia,’ but never mentions Moscow‘s aggression. In a surprise move, France proposed three amendments, backed by more than European countries, which add that the conflict was the result of a ‘full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.’
The relationship between the United States and Russia has been marked by periods of cooperation and conflict.
The two nations have a shared history dating back to World War II, when they fought together against Nazi Germany.
However, the Cold War in the mid-20th century saw a significant deterioration in relations.
Since then, tensions have fluctuated due to issues such as nuclear disarmament, NATO expansion, and Ukraine's sovereignty.
According to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey, only 27% of Americans view Russia favorably, while 47% of Russians have a positive view of the United States.
Amendments and Resolution
All the amendments were approved, and the resolution passed 93-8 with 73 abstentions. Ukraine voted ‘yes,’ the U.S. abstained, and Russia voted ‘no.’ The U.N. Security Council later approved the original U.S.-sponsored resolution, with a vote of 10-0 and five countries abstaining.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Calls for International Support
Mariana Betsa, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, said her country is exercising its ‘inherent right to self-defense’ following Russia‘s invasion. She called on all nations to stand firm and take the side of the U.N. Charter, humanity, and just and lasting peace.
Tensions Between U.S. and Ukraine
The dueling resolutions reflect the tensions that have emerged between the U.S. and Ukraine after Trump suddenly opened negotiations with Russia in a bid to quickly resolve the conflict. They also underscore the strain in the transatlantic alliance over the Trump administration’s engagement with Moscow.
