USA votes with Russia, and not with its allies, in the duel of resolutions on Ukraine in the UN

After decades of block policies and Washington’s efforts to isolate Russia for its aggression to Ukraine, the band of the first world power materialized shortly before twelve noon on the screens of the UN General Assembly: The US and Russia shared the color in several votes, something unthinkable only a few weeks ago. And voted against its western allies, from European countries to Canada or Japan.

The UN General Assembly, where all member countries participate, submitted two texts to vote: one presented by Ukraine and its European allies and another introduced by the US. The first maintained the position against the Russian aggression that has defended the Great majority of the international community from the invasion of Ukraine: the demands of a lasting, fair peace and in the terms of the UN Charter and international legislation; of the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Faced with what he has done in the last three years with dozens of similar resolutions in the UN, the US under Donald Trump voted against. And he aligned with Russia and the handful of countries that usually follow the line of Moscow and Beijing at the UN: Belarus, Nicaragua, Eritrea, Central African Republic … They also joined in their negative vote Israel, the great EE ally. Uu. In the international concert, and Hungary, the only European country that voted against. Despite this, the resolution in favor of Ukraine and against Russian aggression came forward: 93 votes in favor, 18 against and 65 abstentions.

Then, the vote of Washington and Moscow aligned again when the amendments to the American text were voted, presented by France on behalf of the European allies. USA and Russia voted against. And the US delegation abstained in the vote of its amended text, which did not prevent it from being ahead (93 in favor, 8 against and 73 abstentions).

The resolutions of the General Assembly have no binding power, but political weight. And those on Monday visualized the rupture of the US with their traditional partners and their scourge towards positions near Russia. The Russian ambassador, Vasili Nebenzia, defended in the speeches prior to the voting, that the original US text – which did not go ahead, was modified by the amendments – is a “step in the right direction.”

In the days before the vote, the Trump administration pressed Ukraine to withdraw its resolution proposal, but without success. Nor did he agree on a common text with European partners. Alternatively, he presented his own text, a very brief resolution, of only three paragraphs, in which any mention of the aggression of Russia or any condemnation of Russia is avoided and that only demanded a “rapid end” of the war and one “Durable peace” between Ukraine and Russia.

“These resolutions have not been able to stop the war,” defended the US representative, the interim ambassador Dorothy Shea. The American resolution “is a historical text that looks forward, not backwards,” he defended.

The US votes culminated the turn of the first world power over the conflict. In recent weeks, Trump has started conversations with Russia without counting Ukraine or European countries; He has described the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski, as “dictator”; He has accused Ukraine of starting the war and has warned his government that “or act fast, or will run out of a country.”

The representative of Ukraine, the Vice Minister of Exteriors, Betsa Mariana, said in the middle of the US turn that “this is a moment of truth, a historical moment.” And “the way in which we respond today to Russian aggression will define the future of Ukraine, Europe and our shared future».

The session in the General Assembly was prior to a meeting in the afternoon of the Security Council, the UN power body, whose resolutions are binding. There was also the vote of a resolution introduced by the US, in the same terms of which the first world power presented to the General Assembly. And it was also planned that the break between the US and its allies would stain again.