US sides with Russia at UN against Ukraine

Three years after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States staged its change of policy on the Ukrainian conflict at the UN on Monday by voting with Russia in both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, which ended up approving a draft resolution that had previously been rejected by a large majority of countries.

You may be interested in: Zelensky says he would resign if it meant peace or NATO membership for Ukraine

The Security Council approved a draft resolution submitted by Washington by 10 votes in favour, including those of Russia and China , calling for "an end to the conflict as soon as possible" and "a lasting peace" with no votes against.

All five European countries in the Council abstained, including France and the United Kingdom, which have the right to veto, although they have not used it in more than 30 years.

For the United States, this is a "historic agreement," said the acting ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Shea.

"We call on all member states to join the United States in pushing for a lasting peace (...) and we are proud that the Security Council has just done so, a milestone, the first in three years" since the start of the war in Ukraine, he added.

Earlier, at the General Assembly, another non-binding text proposed by Ukraine and its European allies, in which they reiterate their "commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine", was adopted by 93 votes in favour, 18 against (the United States and Russia, among others) and 65 abstentions.

The US text approved by the Security Council was also put to a vote. But in the General Assembly it was so distorted by amendments that even the United States ended up abstaining.

Both Russia and the five European members of the Security Council submitted amendments to the US text, but none were approved.

In a dramatic turnaround in the Ukrainian conflict, which began exactly three years ago with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Donald Trump wants to negotiate directly with the Russian authorities and sideline his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he has branded a "dictator."

French President Emmanuel Macron met Trump in Washington on Monday and reminded him that Europe wants a "quick agreement" but that peace cannot come about through "capitulation."

"We want a quick agreement, but not a fragile agreement," said Macron, who stressed the need to offer "security guarantees" to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking again.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Wednesday.

Support in decline

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa had warned the General Assembly that "no country is safe if aggression is justified and the victim is blamed for his or her resilience and desire to survive."

In the General Assembly vote, the international community's support for Ukraine has significantly diminished compared to the initial resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, which had the support of up to 140 countries.

Among Latin Americans, countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, El Salvador, Paraguay and Panama abstained on Monday, while Chile, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru voted in favor and Nicaragua against.

You can also read: Trump wants to "recover the money" that was spent to support Ukraine

Since the start of the war, nearly 13,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and nearly 30,000 wounded, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. However, civilian casualties rose by 30% in 2024 alone, so the figures could be higher, the UN warns.

More than 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced, of whom around seven million live abroad, Deputy Secretary-General Rosmary Di Carlo told the Security Council.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWS HERE

*brc