US Shifts Stance at UN as It Sides With Russia on Ukraine
The United States took an unexpected position at the United Nations on Monday, aligning twice with Russia in key votes that avoided directly condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. This shift marks a major break from Washington’s previous unwavering support for Kyiv.
At the UN General Assembly, a European-backed resolution criticizing Russia secured 93 votes in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstentions. The US joined Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and Sudan in voting against the measure. The resolution emphasized Ukraine’s territorial integrity but received significantly less support than similar past votes.
Amid rising tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Washington had initially drafted a rival resolution. However, European allies pushed to amend the wording to explicitly blame Russia, leading the US to abstain from supporting its own text.
Later, in a Security Council vote, the US pressed forward with its original resolution, which called for a “swift end to the conflict” but avoided blaming Russia. The resolution passed with 10 votes in favor and five abstentions from France, Britain, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia. Notably, France and Britain opted not to use their veto power despite speculation they might do so.
Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzya, welcomed what he called Washington’s “constructive changes” in its stance on Ukraine. Meanwhile, European leaders voiced concerns that the US-Russia alignment could lead to future Security Council resolutions that might reflect negotiations between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This diplomatic shift comes as Trump’s criticism of Zelensky intensifies, with the US president labeling him a “dictator” and questioning his popularity. European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer, are expected to discuss the evolving US position during visits to the White House this week.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his stance that any peace agreement must fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the UN Charter. However, with the US signaling a different approach, the future of international support for Kyiv remains uncertain.
