In a surprising shift from its previous position, the United States sided with Russia in opposing a United Nation General Assembly resolution condemning Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
The decision, made on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, put Washington at odds with its European allies while aligning with the aggressor in the conflict.
The US also voted alongside Russia later on a separate UN Security Council resolution it had introduced. The resolution, which passed without the support of five European members, did not label Russia as the aggressor or reaffirm Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
A major policy shift
The decision comes as the Trump administration explores negotiations with Moscow to end the war, with President Donald Trump intensifying his rhetoric against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In response to the shift, European leaders have scrambled to reassess their approach, with French President Emmanuel Macron meeting Trump at the White House to discuss the implications.
Despite US opposition, the European-backed General Assembly resolution passed with 93 votes in favor. It highlighted concerns over the prolonged war’s devastating impact on Ukraine and global stability, calling for Russia’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Ukrainian territory.
US pushes alternative resolution
The US had put forward a rival resolution that omitted direct condemnation of Russia, instead urging a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace. When the resolution was introduced at the Security Council, it passed with 10 votes in favor, including Russia’s, while five European nations abstained. Efforts to strengthen its language were blocked by Russian vetoes.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya welcomed the resolution as a constructive step toward peace, calling it a necessary shift from past approaches. Meanwhile, US charge d’affaires Dorothy Shea described it as the Security Council’s first meaningful action to push for an end to the war.
“This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one,” Shea said.
European allies push back
European diplomats, however, expressed deep concerns. French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière warned that failing to hold Russia accountable could set a dangerous precedent.
“There will be no peace and security anywhere if aggressions are rewarded, and if the law of the jungle wins,” he said.
UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward emphasized that any peace agreement must uphold international law and make clear that aggression does not pay.
“No one wants peace more than Ukraine, but the terms of that peace matter,” she said.
Amid these tensions, the US abstained from voting on its own General Assembly resolution after amendments were added to reinforce Ukraine’s territorial integrity and hold Russia accountable—changes the US did not support.
As diplomatic maneuvering continues, the sharp shift in US policy raises questions about the future of international efforts to end the war and the balance of power within the UN.
Reported by CNN
