The US has aligned with Russia in UN votes regarding Ukraine, opposing a European resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion while supporting a resolution that lacks criticism of Russia. This shift indicates a significant change under the Trump administration and highlights tensions within the transatlantic alliance, particularly among US allies such as the UK and France.
The United States has recently aligned with Russia in two United Nations votes, marking a notable shift under the Trump administration regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Initially, the US and Russia opposed a European-led resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion and affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity, which was successfully passed by the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Subsequently, the US presented a resolution at the UN Security Council aimed at ending hostilities, yet notably excluding any direct criticism of Russia. This resolution received approval, although key US allies such as the UK and France chose to abstain from the vote, expressing their concerns regarding the resolution’s content.
The divergent resolutions were introduced during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to President Trump, aimed at reconciling their differing perspectives on the war. As tensions escalated within the transatlantic alliance, US representatives promoted a limited resolution recognizing the human toll of the conflict without addressing Russia’s culpability. This contrasted sharply with the more comprehensive European resolution, which explicitly attributed fault to Russia for its invasion and supported Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa articulated her concerns, stating, “We need to reconfirm that the aggression should be condemned and discredited, not rewarded.” The European resolution garnered majority support, with the US surprisingly voting against it alongside Russia and several other nations. In contrast, the US resolution was subsequently amended to include language affirming support for Ukraine prior to its passage, a shift that led to the US abstention.
At the UN Security Council, the unaltered US resolution passed with minimal support, while several allies opted to abstain. Dorothy Camille Shea, the acting US envoy to the UN, characterized the US measure as a “simple historic statement… that looks forward, not backwards”—emphasizing a focus on peace rather than blame. This remarkable alignment with Russia evidences an unprecedented divergence between the US and its European partners since the onset of the conflict three years prior.
Because of Russia’s power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, resolutions addressing the war have faced significant hurdles. Consequently, the UNGA has become the primary platform for discussions regarding the conflict, despite its resolutions lacking the binding power of those from the Security Council.
The recent alignment of the United States with Russia in UN resolutions concerning the Ukraine invasion marks a significant policy shift under the Trump administration. The US has not only opposed a resolution that condemns Russia’s actions but has also supported a resolution that omits criticism of Russia. This development highlights growing fractures in transatlantic relations and reflects America’s changing stance on European security amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
