On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US has aligned itself with Russia in two votes at the UN, showcasing a notable shift in the Trump administration’s approach to the conflict.
Initially, the US and Russia jointly opposed a resolution drafted by European nations that condemned Moscow’s actions and reaffirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity, which ultimately passed in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Subsequently, both nations supported a resolution proposed by the US at the UN Security Council that called for an end to the hostilities but did not criticize Russia in any way.
While this Security Council resolution was approved, key US allies, including the UK and France, abstained from voting after their attempts to modify the text were blocked.
These conflicting resolutions were presented during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to President Donald Trump at the White House, aiming to resolve their stark disagreements regarding the war.
This Thursday, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will similarly meet with the new American leader.
Trump’s administration has significantly altered the dynamics of the transatlantic alliance, showing preference for Moscow and raising questions about America’s long-term commitment to European security.
This divide was evident in the UNGA’s 193-member assembly on Monday as US diplomats advanced a limited resolution mourning the casualties of the “Russia-Ukraine conflict” while advocating for an expedited resolution.
In contrast, European diplomats proposed a more comprehensive resolution, attributing responsibility to Russia for its large-scale invasion and affirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We must reaffirm that aggression should be condemned and delegitimized, rather than rewarded,” remarked Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa.
The European resolution received backing from 93 votes; however, remarkably, the US not only abstained but actually voted against it, joining Russia, Israel, North Korea, Sudan, Belarus, Hungary, and 11 other nations, with 65 abstentions.
The US resolution was also sanctioned by the UNGA, but only after it was revised to include supportive language for Ukraine, resulting in the US abstaining from the vote.
In the more influential UN Security Council, which consists of 15 member states, the unaltered US resolution was accepted with 10 votes, while the UK, France, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia abstained.
Dorothy Camille Shea, the acting US envoy to the UN, characterized the US resolution as a “simple historic statement… that focuses on the future, not the past. A resolution centered on one clear idea: ending the war”.
The US has rarely found itself so misaligned with its European allies.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine commenced three years ago, the Security Council has been stymied by Russia’s ability, as a permanent member, to veto any proposed resolutions.
As a result, the UNGA has served as the primary venue for discussing the war; however, its resolutions do not have the legal binding force of those issued by the Security Council.
