UNITED NATIONS — As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, the U.N. General Assembly is slated to hold a vote on Monday regarding two competing resolutions. One resolution, supported by Ukraine and its European allies, calls for an immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces. The other proposal, backed by the United States, advocates for a prompt resolution to the conflict but does not explicitly mention Russian aggression.
Reports indicate that the United States has encouraged Ukraine to withdraw its resolution and back the U.S. proposal instead, as stated by a U.S. official and a European diplomat on Sunday. However, Ukraine has opted to maintain its stance and will present its resolution for a vote in the assembly, which encompasses 193 member nations. The individuals who disclosed this information requested to remain anonymous due to the private nature of the discussions.
This situation reflects growing strains between the U.S. and Ukraine, particularly in light of President Trump’s recent initiation of talks with Russia in an attempt to swiftly bring an end to hostilities. The shift in U.S. policy has also caused discomfort within the transatlantic alliance, as European leaders expressed frustration over being excluded from these preliminary negotiations.
Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric, labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator,” inaccurately accusing Kyiv of instigating the war, and warning that Zelenskyy must negotiate quickly to avoid jeopardizing his country’s future. In response, Zelenskyy asserted that Trump is operating within a “disinformation space” created by Russia.
Following this, the Trump administration not only refrained from supporting Ukraine’s resolution at the U.N. but also introduced its competing resolution at the last minute, pressing allied nations to endorse this alternative. This event coincides with Trump’s planned meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington on the same day.
Additionally, the United States aims to bring its proposal to a vote in the more influential U.N. Security Council, where China, presiding over the council this month, has arranged for the vote to take place in the afternoon on Monday.
Given that the Security Council has been hindered by Russia’s veto power, the General Assembly has become the primary U.N. platform for addressing the situation in Ukraine. Resolutions passed in the assembly do not carry legal weight, unlike those from the Security Council, but they serve as an important indicator of global sentiment regarding the crisis.
Since the onset of the invasion on February 24, 2022, the General Assembly has approved multiple resolutions condemning Russia’s actions and calling for the withdrawal of its forces. The ongoing rivalry between the two proposed resolutions has intensified lobbying efforts, with one European diplomat noting the high stakes involved in the voting process.
The brief resolution proposed by the U.S. underscores the “tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict” and calls for a swift resolution and lasting peace, while notably omitting any mention of Russia’s invasion.
Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed support for the U.S. resolution, labeling it a positive step. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s resolution explicitly describes “the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation” and emphasizes the necessity of implementing previous assembly resolutions concerning the aggression toward Ukraine.
This resolution highlights a pressing demand for Russia to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces” from Ukrainian territory and raises alarms about the potential escalation of the conflict should North Korean troops engage alongside Russian forces.
It reaffirms the assembly’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and clarifies that territorial changes achieved through the threat or use of force will not be recognized as legitimate. Furthermore, the resolution advocates for “a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities, and a peaceful resolution” to the war while reiterating the urgent necessity to end the conflict this year.