US help for Moscow decision, rejection of EU’s, illustrates deepening division between Washington and allies.
The US has sided with Russia in votes on two United Nations resolutions on Ukraine.
The 2 international locations on Monday opposed a European-backed UN Common Meeting decision condemning Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Within the UN Safety Council (UNSC) they each then authorized a US-backed decision calling for a swift finish to the battle that averted labelling Russia because the aggressor or acknowledging Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The UK and France, which have everlasting seats on the UNSC alongside the US, in addition to Russia and China, abstained from the second vote. So did non-permanent members Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.
The votes, which got here on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, illustrate as soon as extra the deepening divide amongst Western allies as President Donald Trump overturns US help for Ukraine, signalling a departure from longstanding overseas coverage.
The Trump administration has sidelined Kyiv and Europe because it has launched talks with Moscow on a possible peace deal.
In the meantime, the US president has intensified criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
‘Condemned and discredited’
The European-backed Common Meeting decision, adopted with 93 votes in favour, expressed “concern over the continued full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation”, highlighting its “devastating and long-lasting penalties for Ukraine, regional stability, and international safety”.
It referred to as for “de-escalation, an instantaneous ceasefire, and a peaceable decision to the battle”, demanding Russia’s “full and unconditional withdrawal” from Ukrainian territory.
In a stunning flip, the US voted towards the movement, moderately than abstaining. It was joined by 17 others, together with Russia, Israel, North Korea, Sudan, Belarus, and Hungary.
The decision proposed by the US omitted references to Russian aggression or Ukraine’s territorial integrity. It urged “a swift finish to the battle” and emphasised “the UN’s position in sustaining worldwide peace and safety”.
European makes an attempt to amend the textual content with stronger language have been thwarted by Russian vetoes.
The 15-member UNSC then handed the unamended decision with help from 10 members.
Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya praised the US decision as a “constructive step” in the direction of peace, calling it a “future-oriented product” centered on dialogue moderately than escalation.
US Cost d’Affaires Dorothy Shea described its adoption as a “essential first step” in the direction of ending the battle.
“We have to reconfirm that the aggression must be condemned and discredited, not rewarded,” mentioned Ukrainian Deputy Overseas Minister Mariana Betsa.
