The U.S. voted against a resolution condemning Russia

 

The U.S. voted against a resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine that passed the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, February 24, marking three years since Russia’s launched its full-scale invasion of the country. 

The resolution is an expression of the body, and not a binding action, but signals weakening U.S. political support for Ukraine under the Trump administration, in favor of improved relations with Russia.

The resolution, titled “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” passed the General assembly with a vote of 93 in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstaining.  The text of the resolution calls for de-escalation, early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine. 

Among those countries that also rejected the resolution along with the U.S. were Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a close ally to President Trump, Israel and Russia.

The U.S. is proposing a competing resolution. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. resolution is “consistent with President Trump’s view” that the U.N. must return to its “founding purpose… to maintain international peace and security, including through the peaceful settlement of disputes.”

Ambassador Dorothy Shea, acting head of the U.S. mission to the UN, said in remarks before the vote that the language included in Ukraine’s resolution mirrors previous resolutions, which “have failed to stop the war.” “ It has now dragged on for far too long, and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine, in Russia, and beyond,” Shea said. 

-The Hill