In a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, the United States split with his European allies by refusing to blame Russia for his invasion of Ukraine in voices about UN resolutions looking for an end to the three-year-old on Monday war.
The growing gap follows Trump's decision to open direct negotiations with Russia about the termination of the war, which relieves Ukraine and his European supporters by excluding them from the provisional conversations last week.
In the general meeting of the UN, the US came to Russia when voting against a Ukrainian resolution that calls on the aggression of Moscow and demands an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.
The US then abstained from voting for its own competing resolution after Europeans. Under the leadership of France, managed to change it to make it clear that Russia was the aggressor.
The mood took place on the third birthday of the Russian invasion and while Trump organized French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington.
It was a major setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member world organ, whose resolutions are not legally binding, but are seen as a barometer of world information.
The US then insisted on a vote on its original design in the more powerful UN Security Council, where resolutions are legally binding and has fatty times together with Russia, China, Great Britain and France.
The mood in the 15-person council was 10-0 with five European countries that abstain-Groot-Britain, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.
In a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, the United States splits with his European allies by refusing to blame Russia for his invasion of Ukraine
Ukraine President VolodyMyr Zensky speaks during a press conference on February 23, 2025 in Kiev, Ukraine
Members of the Security Council released a vote during a United Nations Security Council on the 3rd anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York, USA, 24 February 2025
The dual resolutions also reflect the tensions that have arisen between the US and Ukraine.
With escalating rhetoric, Trump has called Ukrainian President Volodyymyr Zensky a “dictator” because he has not kept any elections during wartime, when much of Ukraine is under the Russian occupation, the soldiers are in the front lines and is under the field of war law.
Trump has also falsely accused KYIV of starting the war and warned that he 'better moving' to negotiate the conflict or run the risk of not leading a nation.
Zelensky replied by saying that Trump lived in a 'disinformation room' made by Russian.
In a whirlwind of diplomacy, Trump's meeting will be followed on Thursday by a visit from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, important American allies who were in Lockstep with Washington on Ukraine just over a month ago.
They are now on opposite sides on the best path for the UN to put an end to the war.
The general meeting voted 93-18 with 65 abstentions to approve the Ukrainian resolution.
The result showed some reduced support for Ukraine, because votes from the previous meeting condemn more than 140 countries the aggression of Russia and require an immediate withdrawal.
The meeting then turned to the resolution drawn up by the US, which 'acknowledges the tragic loss of life in the Russia-Ukraine conflict' and begs' a quick end of the conflict and continues on a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia ', but never mentions Moscow's aggression.
In a surprising step, France suggested three amendments, which added that the conflict was the result of a 'full invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation'.
The amendments confirm the dedication of the meeting to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine and calls for peace that respects the UN charter.
Russia proposed an amendment to call to be tackled 'main causes' of the conflict. All changes were approved and the resolution was adopted 93-8 with 73 abstentions, with Ukraine 'yes' voting, the American remember and Russia 'no' voting.
Both resolutions of the meeting were supported by American allies in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, the neighbors Canada and Mexico and European countries, with the exception of Hungary.
The deputy Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariana Betsa, speaks during a UN meeting of the Security Council to vote on an American resolution on Ukraine on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea, Chargée d'Affaires Ad Interim of the United States, speaks during a Security Council of the United Nations (UN)
Vasily Nebenzya, permanent representative from Russia to the UN, is viewed during a meeting about Ukraine, at the United Nations head office on February 24, 2025 in New York City
Ukrainian vice-minister of Foreign Affairs Mariana Betsa said that her country exercises its 'inherent right to self-defense' after the invasion of Russia, who violates the requirement of the UN charter that countries respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations.
'While we mark three years of this destruction – the complete invasion of Russia against Ukraine – we call on all nations to be established and taken – the side of the charter, the side of humanity and the side of just and the righteous and Permanent peace, peace by strength, “she said.
Trump has often stated that he brings 'peace through strength'. The British UN ambassador Barbara Woodward warned the council: “If Russia is allowed to win, we will live in a world where power is good, where boundaries can be again drawn with violence, where aggressors think they can act impunity.”
Lotte Machon van Denmark, a deputy Foreign Minister, emphasized that in peace negotiations: “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about European security without Europe.”
The American deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea meanwhile said several earlier UN resolutions that condemn Russia and demand that the withdrawal of Russian troops did not stop the war “people in Ukraine and Russia and beyond.”
“What we need is a resolution that marks the obligation of all UN member states to bring a sustainable end to the war,” said Shea before the mood.
US President Donald Trump meets French President Emmanuel Macron (not depicted) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, 24 February 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with correspondent Pavel Zarubin of the state of TV Kremlin in his home outside Moscow, Russia, 24 February 2025
Russia used in the Security Council to prevent European changes in the US resolution, which is legally binding but in an intenpo to be toothless.
The only surgical section “begs a fast end of the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.”
Shea called it “a first step, but a crucial,” saying that “it brings us to peace.” The general meeting has become the most important UN body on Ukraine because the Veto power of Russia has paralyzed the Security Council.
It has approved half a dozen resolutions since Russian armed forces stormed across the border on 24 February 2022.
The Ukrainian resolution has adopted on Monday, recalls the need to implement the earlier resolutions, as a result of which the requirement of Russia has immediately and unconditionally withdrawn all its military troops from the territory of Ukraine. '
The resolution confirms the dedication of the meeting to the sovereignty of Ukraine and also “that no territorial acquisition is recognized as legally as a result of the threat or use of violence.”
It calls for “a de-escalation, an early stopping of hostilities and a peaceful solution to the war against Ukraine,” and “repeats the urgent need to end the war this year.”
