A Shift in US Diplomacy: American Support for Russia’s Stance at the UN Stirs Tensions with Allies
In a dramatic shift in US foreign policy, the United States has sided with Russia twice in UN votes on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, marking a stark departure from previous administrations. The first vote saw the US oppose a European-led resolution condemning Russia’s actions and affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity, joining Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and a few other states in rejecting the proposal.
Later, the US put forward its own resolution in the UN Security Council calling for an end to the war, but notably, it did not criticise Russia’s role in the conflict. The resolution passed, though key US allies such as the UK and France abstained after their efforts to amend the language were vetoed.
These events occurred amid a visit to the US by French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with President Donald Trump in a bid to resolve their growing disagreements over the war. The following day, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was scheduled to meet the new US president.
The shift in US policy has unsettled long-standing European alliances, with critics expressing concern over Washington’s increasingly favourable stance towards Moscow. At the UN General Assembly, the US diplomats pushed through a resolution focusing on the loss of life and the need for a swift end to the “Russia-Ukraine conflict,” which contrasted with the European text that directly condemned Russia’s invasion and reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukrainian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, stressed the need to condemn Russia’s aggression. Despite the European resolution passing with 93 votes, the US, along with Russia and several other countries, voted against it, while 65 countries abstained.
The US resolution, which called for the end of the war but failed to assign blame, was also passed, but only after amendments included support for Ukraine. Republican Senator John Curtis expressed his dismay, highlighting the US alignment with nations like North Korea and Russia.
At the UN Security Council, the US resolution again called for peace but excluded any direct criticism of Russia, passing with 10 votes in favour. However, several European nations, including the UK, France, and Denmark, abstained.
This division represents a significant deviation from the historical US-European unity on the Ukraine crisis, as Russia’s veto power continues to stymie resolutions at the Security Council. The UN General Assembly, while an important forum, lacks the binding authority of the Security Council, making the outcome of these votes largely symbolic.
