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The United States has voted against a UN resolution that would condemn Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine war.
Some shit you should know before you read: Every year since the war broke out, the United States has consistently voted in favor of UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict. These resolutions, while non-binding, have served as statements of international solidarity with Ukraine and have been supported by the majority of UN member states. Unlike in the UN Security Council, where any of the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—can veto substantive resolutions, no such veto power exists in the General Assembly. This has allowed the global community to repeatedly condemn Russia’s actions despite Moscow’s opposition.
What’s going on now: In a notable shift, the United States voted against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine war, breaking from its previous stance of supporting Ukraine in similar votes. The resolution passed with 93 votes in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstentions. Joining the US in voting against the measure were Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Israel, and Hungary. China, along with 64 other countries, chose to abstain from the vote. In contrast, all European Union member states voted unanimously in favor of the resolution, maintaining strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
When asked about the vote, President Trump declined to provide a detailed explanation, stating only that the reasoning was “self-evident.” Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the US position, arguing that the American-sponsored competing resolution, which called for peace without naming Russia as the aggressor, aligned with Trump’s vision for the United Nations to focus on maintaining international peace without assigning blame. Rubio stressed that this approach was intended to encourage negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, signaling a diplomatic shift aimed at ending the conflict through direct dialogue rather than condemnation.
This comes as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsy, criticized nations who voted against the resolution. In a statement, Ambassador Kyslytsya said, “Sometimes it is not easy to fight for the truth. But in the end, it is the truth that makes history. We appreciate each of the 93 UN Member States who supported our resolution, all of its truthful formulations, and its clear will to achieve a just and lasting peace. The resolution calls for de-escalation, an early end to hostilities, condemns the involvement of DPRK troops fighting alongside Russia. Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be restored. Three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, global support for Ukraine remains strong.”
