The United States has aligned with Russia in two critical United Nations votes concerning the war in Ukraine, marking a significant break from its traditional stance.
On Monday, both countries opposed a European-backed UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Later, in the UN Security Council (UNSC), they jointly supported a US-sponsored resolution calling for an end to the conflict—one that notably avoided naming Russia as the aggressor or affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The United Kingdom and France, both permanent UNSC members alongside the US, Russia, and China, abstained from the second vote, as did non-permanent members Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia.
The votes, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, highlight the growing rift among Western allies as President Donald Trump shifts US policy away from supporting Ukraine. His administration has sidelined Kyiv and European partners while pursuing direct negotiations with Moscow on a potential peace deal.
Meanwhile, Trump has intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The European-backed General Assembly resolution, adopted with 93 votes in favor, expressed “concern over the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation” and warned of its “devastating and long-lasting consequences for Ukraine, regional stability, and global security.”
It called for “de-escalation, an immediate ceasefire, and a peaceful resolution to the conflict” while demanding Russia’s “complete and unconditional withdrawal” from Ukrainian territory.
However, in a notable departure from past US policy, Washington voted against the resolution rather than abstaining. It joined 17 other nations, including Russia, Israel, North Korea, Sudan, Belarus, and Hungary, in opposing the motion.
The US-led resolution in the UNSC deliberately omitted references to Russian aggression or Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty. Instead, it emphasized the urgency of ending the conflict and underscored “the UN’s role in maintaining international peace and security.”
European efforts to introduce stronger language were blocked by Russian vetoes. The final text passed with support from 10 of the 15 UNSC members.
Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya hailed the resolution as a “constructive step” toward peace, describing it as a “future-oriented product” that prioritizes dialogue over escalation.
US Charge d’Affaires Dorothy Shea called the resolution’s passage a “crucial first step” toward resolving the conflict.
However, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa rejected the outcome, stating, “We need to reconfirm that aggression should be condemned and discredited, not rewarded.”
The votes signal a dramatic shift in US foreign policy under the Trump administration, raising concerns among European allies about Washington’s commitment to Ukraine as the war enters its fourth year.
