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UN Vote: Why US Broke With Europe On Ukraine
By Benjamin Abioye
The United States has taken a different stance from its European allies at the United Nations by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
This happened during votes on three U.N. resolutions calling for an end to the three-year war. The shift in position follows President Donald Trump’s decision to start direct negotiations with Russia, leaving Ukraine and its European supporters out of the discussions.
In the U.N. General Assembly, the U.S. joined Russia in voting against a resolution backed by European nations and Ukraine. This resolution condemned Moscow’s actions and called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. Later, when a U.S.-proposed resolution was amended by European nations to explicitly label Russia as the aggressor, the U.S. chose to abstain from the vote. The votes took place on the third anniversary of the invasion, as President Trump hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington.
The outcome was a setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member General Assembly, where resolutions are not legally binding but reflect global opinion. The U.S. then pushed its original draft to a vote in the more powerful U.N. Security Council, where resolutions carry legal weight. In that vote, ten nations supported the resolution, while five European countries—Britain, France, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia—abstained.
The disagreement highlights rising tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine. Trump has escalated his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator” for not holding elections during the war. He also falsely claimed that Ukraine started the conflict and warned that Zelenskyy needed to negotiate quickly or risk losing his country. In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of living in a “Russian-made disinformation space.”
Diplomatic meetings continued as Trump prepared to host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer later in the week. Previously, the U.S., France, and Britain were united in their approach to Ukraine, but now, they are divided on how the U.N. should address the war. The General Assembly voted 93-18, with 65 abstentions, to approve the Ukrainian resolution. While Ukraine still received broad international support, the number of votes in favor had dropped compared to previous years.
The U.S.-backed resolution did not blame Russia but acknowledged the “tragic loss of life” in the conflict and called for a swift and lasting peace. France proposed amendments to make clear that Russia was responsible for the war, and these changes were approved. Russia attempted to add language about addressing the “root causes” of the conflict, but its proposal was rejected. In the final vote, the resolution passed with 93 votes in favor, 8 against, and 73 abstentions. Ukraine supported it, the U.S. abstained, and Russia opposed it.
Countries allied with the U.S., such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico, supported the Ukrainian resolution, while Hungary stood apart from the rest of Europe by not voting in favor.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa defended her country’s actions, stating that Ukraine was exercising its “inherent right to self-defense” as guaranteed by the U.N. Charter. She urged the international community to stand on the side of justice and peace.
Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward warned that if Russia won, it would set a dangerous precedent where force could be used to change borders without consequences. Similarly, Denmark’s Deputy Foreign Minister Lotte Machon emphasized that peace negotiations should include Ukraine and Europe.
U.S. Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea argued that previous U.N. resolutions condemning Russia had failed to stop the war. She called for a new resolution that would mark a global commitment to ending the conflict. However, when the Security Council voted, Russia used its veto power to block European amendments that directly blamed Moscow.
Shea acknowledged that the resolution was a “first step” but insisted it was crucial for establishing a path to peace. The General Assembly remains the primary U.N. body addressing the Ukraine war since Russia’s veto power has rendered the Security Council ineffective.
The Ukrainian resolution reaffirmed the call for Russia to withdraw all military forces immediately and without conditions. It also emphasized that any territorial gains made through force would not be legally recognized. Additionally, it called for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the war, urging that hostilities end within the year.
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