After three years of solid support for Ukraine, the United States made a sharp turn and voted against a resolution by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that condemned Russian invasion.
The United States also submitted its own resolution on Monday. This did not blame Russia on the conflict, calling for an end to the war on neutral conditions.
These moves reflect the growing gap between the US and Europe, and the changes in Washington’s policy regarding Ukraine under US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Here’s what you need to know about policy changes:
What happened to the UNGA resolution?
The United States was one of 18 countries that voted against a resolution entitled “Advance comprehensive, fair and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
The US opposed resolution clearly acknowledged that it was Moscow, not Kiev, that launched this ongoing war in 2022, and to UNGA members to Ukraine’s “sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity.” urged to reaffirm their commitment.
He also reaffirmed that it is illegal for the land to be taken by force or threats of force, and called on both sides of the conflict to comply with international law and to protect “women and children in particular.”
Perhaps most importantly, Russia demanded that it immediately withdraw from Ukraine and end the war.
The United States, along with Russia, North Korea, Hungary, Israel and a few other countries, voted against the resolution.
What did the US want instead?
The United States proposed its own resolution at UNGA entitled “The Road to Peace,” calling for lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, without blaming who started the war.
The resolution lamented “the tragic loss of life through the conflict between the Russian Federation and the Ukrain.” He also reiterated that the UN’s purpose is to maintain international peace and “resolve conflicts peacefully.”
However, France revised its draft, adding a reference to Moscow’s full-scale invasion and Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The resolution was then passed by UNGA, with 93 votes and 8 votes and 73 votes being given. The United States declined to vote on the resolution.
However, the United States has since promoted the original draft of the resolution to the UN Security Council (UNSC). It was passed with a 10-0 vote with five abstentions – the UK, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.
UNSC solutions are legally binding, and UNGA solutions are not, but they reflect and sometimes affect how the world perceives conflict.
How is this different from what the US has done in the past?
Since the war began, the United States has voted in favor of six UNGA resolutions that were passed on Monday, similar to the two.
The UNSC was paralyzed by Russia’s ability to reject the issue, making UNGA an important organisation for Ukrainian resolutions.
This is the previous six UNGA resolutions that passed.
March 3, 2022 – 141 countries, including the United States, voted in favor of a resolution denounced Russia’s declaration as a “special military operation” on February 24, 2022, and forced territorial acquisition is illegal. I’ve reaffirmed that this is. The resolution called for Russia to halt the use of force against Ukraine and withdraw its troops from its territory. Five countries voted against it. March 24, 2022 – The US has joined 139 countries, reaffirming its “commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity” and calling for Russia to withdraw its troops. April 2022 – 93 countries, including the United States, voted in favor of the UNGA resolution suspending membership in Russia on the Human Rights Council. In October 2022, Washington supported the UNGA resolution that won by 143, denounced the annexation of Ukrainian territory. November 2022 – The US votes in favor of the UNGA resolution that won 94-14 urging Russia to pay reparations to Ukraine, and also halts the use of force on Russia and withdraws its troops I called for it. February 23, 2023 – A resolution calling for troops to take over territory illegal and calling for Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine, passed between 141-7. Washington voted in favor of the resolution.
There was only one UNSC resolution focusing on Russia’s war with Ukraine.
This was held on February 27, 2022, and a special emergency session was called at the Ukraine General Assembly. The US voted in favor of this, and an emergency special session met a day later.
In October 2022, the United States co-hosted the UNSC draft resolution condemning an “illicit referendum” held on Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia. They also called for Russia to pull troops from Ukraine. This resolution failed after it was rejected by Russia.
What does the US say to the world?
US Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea said several past UN resolutions calling for Russia to withdraw its troops “failed to stop the war.”
Before the vote, Siah said the war had “took too long,” hurting both Russia and Ukraine.
“All we need is that resolutions marking commitments from all UN member states will put an end to a durable war,” Siah said before the vote. She said this was the first step to “put us on the path to peace.”
This is in stark contrast to comments by Linda Thomas Greenfield, the United Nations U.S. ambassador under former President Joe Biden.
“Every day, Ukrainian families live in fear of Russian war crimes. To date, the military has committed around 147,000 people. And every night, Ukrainian families live in fear of Russian air strikes. .
“It is clear that Russia does not respect life in Ukraine, but it is also clear that Russia does not respect life in Russia.”