In a win for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion, the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, February 24, refused to approve a United States-backed resolution that urged an end to the war without mentioning Moscow's aggression. Instead, it approved a European-backed Ukrainian resolution demanding Russia immediately withdraw its forces, which the Trump administration opposed.
It was a setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member world body, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion. But it also showed some diminished support for Ukraine, whose resolution passed 93-18, with 65 abstentions. That's lower than previous votes, which saw more than 140 nations condemn Russia's aggression and demand its immediate withdrawal.
The US had tried to pressure the Ukrainians to withdraw their resolution in favor of its proposal, including a last-minute appeal by US Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea. Ukraine refused, and the assembly approved three European-proposed amendments, adding language to the US proposal making clear that Russia invaded its smaller neighbor in violation of the UN Charter. The vote on the amended US resolution was 93-8 with 73 abstentions, with Ukraine voting "yes," the US abstaining and Russia voting "no."
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa said her country is exercising its "inherent right to self-defense" following Russia's invasion, which violates the UN Charter's requirement that countries respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations. "As we mark three years of this devastation – Russia's full invasion against Ukraine – we call on all nations to stand firm and to take … the side of the Charter, the side of humanity and the side of just and lasting peace, peace through strength," she said. President Donald Trump has often stated his commitment to bringing "peace through strength."
US envoy Shea, meanwhile, said multiple previous UN resolutions condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops "have failed to stop the war," which "has now dragged on for far too long and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine and Russia and beyond." "What we need is a resolution marking the commitment from all UN member states to bring a durable end to the war," Shea said.
The dueling resolutions reflect the tensions that have emerged between the US 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 extraordinary turnaround on engagement with Moscow. European leaders were dismayed that they and Ukraine were left out of preliminary talks last week, and the assembly met as Trump was hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington.