UNITED NATIONS – U.S. officials have been urging Ukraine to withdraw its U.N. resolution, which is backed by European nations and calls for the immediate exit of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. This push is in favor of an alternative proposal from the U.S. that does not cite Russia’s invasion at all, according to statements made by a U.S. representative alongside a European diplomat on Sunday.
However, Ukraine has chosen to maintain its original draft resolution, which is slated for a vote on Monday, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine, as reported by two European diplomats.
Following this, the 193-member General Assembly is anticipated to also vote on the U.S. draft resolution. The U.S. official and the European diplomats, who requested anonymity due to ongoing discussions, noted that negotiations have been taking place.
In an additional effort, the U.S. administration is working to secure a vote on its proposal within the U.N. Security Council. The Security Council session will take place Monday afternoon, organized by China, which holds the presidency in the Council this month.
The two competing resolutions illustrate the increasing friction among the U.S., Ukraine, and European nations, especially in the five weeks since the arrival of President Donald Trump. His administration has initiated talks with Russia, an approach that has displeased European leaders and Ukraine, who felt excluded from initial discussions held last week.
As the Security Council has been hindered by Russia’s veto powers, the General Assembly has emerged as the primary U.N. platform regarding the Ukraine situation.
Unlike the Security Council’s resolutions, which are legally binding, votes in the General Assembly are non-binding but are closely observed as indicators of global sentiment. Since the onset of the conflict with Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022, the assembly has passed several resolutions condemning Russia’s actions and demanding an immediate Russian military withdrawal.
The anticipated votes this Monday on the conflicting resolutions will be closely monitored to gauge the ongoing international support for Ukraine and evaluate the effectiveness of the U.S.’s attempts to push for a prompt resolution to the conflict.
According to a European diplomat, rigorous lobbying and negotiations have dominated discussions regarding the competing resolutions. The U.S. is aiming to persuade Ukraine and European countries to retract their proposal, particularly as Trump prepares to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington on Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed on Friday that this moment presents a pivotal opportunity to promote peace and end the ongoing war. He emphasized that, while challenges may appear, an enduring peace is attainable through resolution efforts.
The Ukraine-backed resolution, which enjoys the support of the 27-nation European Union, delineates the invasion of Ukraine by Russian Federation forces and reaffirms the necessity of adhering to prior assemblies’ resolutions regarding the aggression against Ukraine.
Key demands include an unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and a call for the immediate cessation of all hostile activities, as well as propositions for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Conversely, the concise U.S. draft resolution notes the “tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” urging a prompt conclusion to hostilities and advocating a lasting peace, yet it omits any mention of Russia’s invasion.
Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Vassily Nebenzia, characterized the U.S. proposal as a constructive approach during a press briefing last week. Russia has further suggested an amendment to the U.S. resolution to incorporate the notion of addressing the fundamental causes of the conflict before calling for peace between Ukraine and Russia.
