Trump Administration Opposes European Resolution Condemning Russia, Pushes for Neutral Peace Call
The United States has twice aligned with Russia in recent United Nations votes, signaling a dramatic shift in its stance on the Russia-Ukraine war under President Donald Trump’s administration.
In a rare move, the US voted against a European-drafted resolution at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, which condemned Russia’s actions and reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The US joined Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and others in opposing the resolution, while 93 nations backed it and 65 abstained.
Simultaneously, the US introduced its own resolution at the UN Security Council, calling for an end to the conflict without directly criticizing Russia. While the Security Council passed the resolution with 10 votes in favor, key US allies — the UK, France, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia — abstained after their attempts to amend the text were vetoed.
America’s acting UN envoy, Dorothy Camille Shea, described the US resolution as a “simple historic statement… that looks forward, not backwards,” focusing solely on ending the war.
The diplomatic fallout has exposed a widening rift between the US and its European partners. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White House in an effort to bridge the divide, and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet President Trump on Thursday.
The UNGA has been the primary platform for discussing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, given Russia’s veto power in the Security Council. While UNGA resolutions lack legal binding force, they carry symbolic weight.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa emphasized the importance of condemning Russia’s aggression, stating, “We need to reconfirm that the aggression should be condemned and discredited, not rewarded.”
The US’s departure from its traditional alliance with Europe highlights growing tensions over America’s long-term commitment to European security and its evolving stance on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
