The United States is seeking a U.N. Security Council vote on a concise resolution commemorating the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, slated for Monday, ahead of a vote by the 193-member General Assembly on the same proposal, according to diplomats. This move by the U.S. sets up a clash with Ukraine and the European Union, who have been engaged in negotiations with U.N. member states over their own draft resolution on the conflict, which is scheduled for a General Assembly vote on Monday.
Earlier reports revealed that the U.S. opted not to co-sponsor the text prepared by Ukraine and the EU. Subsequently, on Friday, Washington put forward its own resolution for a General Assembly vote on Monday and also presented the same draft to the Security Council. As of now, a Security Council vote on the U.S. draft has not been scheduled, diplomats noted. For a council resolution to be adopted, it must receive at least nine affirmative votes and no vetoes from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, or France.
The U.S. initiative for U.N. action follows President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, leading to tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and causing unease among European partners about potentially being sidelined in peace negotiations. Meetings between U.S. and Russian officials took place on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the draft U.N. resolution aligns with Trump’s vision for the U.N. to uphold international peace and security, particularly through peaceful conflict resolution. Rubio stated, “Through endorsing this resolution, we affirm the dire nature of this conflict, the U.N.’s potential to help resolve it, and the possibility of achieving peace.” He urged all U.N. member states to unite with the U.S. in this important endeavor.
The U.S. resolution expresses sorrow for the lives lost in the “Russia-Ukraine conflict” and underscores “the primary aim of the United Nations to uphold international peace, security, and peaceful dispute resolution.” It calls for a prompt end to the conflict and advocates for lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia. Russia has proposed an amendment to add language addressing the “root causes” of the conflict, which would be subject to a General Assembly vote.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia praised the U.S. draft as a positive step. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha appeared to criticize Russia’s attempt to modify the U.S. resolution, emphasizing that the core reasons behind the conflict lie in Putin’s denial of Ukraine’s sovereignty and his intent to dismantle the nation.
The U.N. resolution drafted by Ukraine and the EU emphasizes the urgent need to end the conflict within the year, calling for intensified diplomatic efforts to mitigate further escalation risks and achieve a comprehensive, fair, and enduring peace in Ukraine. It stresses the
Resolutions were put forth requiring Russia to remove its troops from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and to cease hostilities in Moscow. While General Assembly resolutions do not have legally binding force, they do have significant political significance as they represent a worldwide perspective on the conflict. It is worth noting that no country possesses the authority to veto decisions within the assembly. This information was reported by Michelle Nichols and supplemented by Olena Harmash and Lucy Papachristou, with editing by Sharon Singleton and Diane Craft.
