In a surprising change in policy, the United States joined Russia and several allies on Monday in voting against a United Nations resolution that condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine and demanded its withdrawal. Most European countries supported the resolution, while India chose to abstain.
This marked the first time the US voted alongside Russia since the war began.
The resolution, which criticised Russia and defended Ukraine’s territorial integrity, passed with 93 votes in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstentions. Those opposing included Russia, North Korea, Israel, and other Moscow-aligned nations.
The resolution called for peace, an end to hostilities, and respect for Ukraine’s borders. Alongside India, China, Iran, the UAE, and Argentina also abstained.
In a separate vote, the US abstained from its own proposed resolution after European nations, led by France, made changes emphasizing Russia’s role as the aggressor. This amended resolution also passed with 93 votes in favor, 73 abstentions, and eight opposing votes.
However, the overall support for Ukraine appeared to have declined. Earlier votes had over 140 countries condemning Russia, while this time only 93 did.
At the UN Security Council, where decisions are legally binding, the US pushed for its original draft to be voted on. Russia vetoed a European attempt to change it, but the US version was adopted.
These UN votes come as former US President Donald Trump takes a new approach to the Ukraine war, amid tensions between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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