US breaks with Europe at UN over Ukraine resolution

The United States broke ranks with its European allies at the United Nations on February 24, rejecting language that blamed Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in resolutions aimed at ending the war.

In a major policy shift, the U.S. joined Russia and Belarus in voting against a European-backed Ukrainian resolution at the UN General Assembly, which explicitly condemned Moscow’s aggression. The resolution passed with a vote of 93-18, with 65 abstentions.

In another unexpected move, the U.S. abstained from voting on its own competing resolution after amendments were added, clarifying that Russia had violated the UN Charter by invading Ukraine. The revised resolution passed 93-8, with 73 abstentions. Ukraine voted in favor, while Russia opposed it. The U.S. then sought to push its original draft through the UN Security Council, where it passed 10-0, with Britain, France, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia abstaining.

The shift in Washington’s stance sparked criticism at home. Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) voiced concern over the U.S. aligning with Russia and North Korea, stating, “These are not our friends. This posture is a dramatic shift from American ideals of freedom and democracy.” He added that while an end to the war is necessary, it must be achieved in a way that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty and deters further aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The votes highlighted growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv, following Trump’s recent remarks calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” for not holding elections during wartime and falsely accusing Kyiv of starting the war. The U.S.-drafted resolution, which avoided condemning Russia, instead acknowledged “the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict” and called for “a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.”

France, backed by over a dozen European nations, proposed three amendments, one of which explicitly labeled the war as a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.” In the Security Council, however, Russia used its veto power to block any modifications to the U.S. text.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa defended her country’s fight, stating that Ukraine is exercising its “inherent right to self-defense” and warning that the world’s response to Russian aggression “will define the future of Ukraine… Europe and our common future.” As Ukraine marked the anniversary of the invasion, she urged 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.”

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea acknowledged that previous UN resolutions condemning Russia and demanding troop withdrawals had failed to stop the war. “What we need is a resolution marking the commitment from all UN member states to bring a durable end to the war,” she said, calling the U.S. resolution “a first step, but a crucial one,” adding that it “puts us on the path to peace.”