The United States voted against a resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine that passed the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, on the three-year anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring country.
Among the 17 countries that joined the U.S. in opposition to the non-binding measure were Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a close ally to President Trump.
The vote against the European-backed resolution put the US at odds with its longtime democratic allies as the Trump administration instead sided with the aggressor in the war.
Two years ago, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. said, “I was sanctioned by Russia this week because I support Ukraine in their fight for freedom. Putin has proven that he has no regard for civility, freedom, or human life. I will continue my strong support for Ukraine to drive Putin’s forces out.”
In the aftermath of Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine in the United Nations, Kean was nowhere to be found, and his office was unable to articulate the Republican congressman’s position on the stunning foreign policy shift.
Communist China abstained along with 64 other countries.
The resolution was adopted by the General Assembly with 93 votes in favor.
It notes “with concern the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has persisted for three years and continues to have devastating and long-lasting consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for other regions and global stability” and “calls for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s European allies were unanimously in support of the resolution, which was an expression of opinion, and not a binding action.
The vote was a setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member world body, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion.
But it also showed some diminished support for Ukraine, whose resolution passed 93-18, with 65 abstentions.
That’s lower than previous votes, which saw more than 140 nations condemn Russia’s aggression and demand its immediate withdrawal.
The vote came as Trump met with Frenh President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Monday and the two spoke with G7 leaders to discuss peace talks to end the war and the growing gulf between Washington and European capitals over the future of the NATO alliance.
Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, warned that Europe must seek independence from the United States and said it was an “absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible”.
The US had tried to pressure the Ukrainians to withdraw their resolution in favor of its proposal, including a last-minute appeal by US Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea.
Ukraine refused, and the assembly approved three European-proposed amendments, adding language to the US proposal making clear that Russia invaded its smaller neighbor in violation of the UN Charter.
A fault line is opening up on the continent where a military deadlock, fatigue of public opinion and fear of escalation are all working in Moscow’s favor, to the detriment of Europe, at a time when the latter is being abandoned by its American ally.
The divide opening up in Europe sets apart the governments determined to protect themselves from the appetites of the Russian predator, such as Poland and the Baltic countries, and those advocating appeasement with Putin’s belligerent regime.
America’s vote signals weakening U.S. political support for Ukraine under Trump, who is likely to take a transactional approach towards improved relations with Russia.
The billionaire tyrant has displayed an infatuation with Putin and other world dictators.
Asked about the vote in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he would rather not explain the rationale behind it, but called it “self-evident.”
In recent days, Trump falsely blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the war, which began when Moscow initiated a full-scale invasion into the neighboring country on Feb. 24, 2022.
Trump has called Zelensky a “dictator without elections,” while his top diplomats over the weekend refused to cast blame at Putin, a stance that has also sewed a growing rift with traditionally hawkish Republicans, when it comes to Moscow’s international aggression.