The US recently supported a UN General Assembly resolution advocating for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine war, marking a shift from its previous stance favoring Ukraine. The resolution, proposed by Ukraine and its allies, received 93 votes in favor, with significant abstentions and opposition. This shift coincided with rising tensions between US President Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelensky, as Trump criticized Zelensky and expressed the need for an end to hostilities. Meanwhile, the US has provided over $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the conflict’s escalation in February 2022.
New Delhi:
On Monday, the US expressed support for Russia regarding a UN General Assembly draft resolution that called for a de-escalation of conflict, an early end to hostilities, and a peaceful resolution of the ongoing war in Ukraine. This marks a shift for Washington, which has typically voted in favor of resolutions supporting Kyiv and condemning Moscow, especially in light of escalating tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The draft resolution titled ‘Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine’, introduced by Ukraine and its European partners, was voted on by the 193-member UN General Assembly. It received 93 votes in favor, with 65 abstentions and 18 votes against.
Among the supporters of Russia were its allies, including Belarus, North Korea, and Sudan, as the resolution was introduced on the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
India, advocating for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, chose to abstain from the voting process.
The resolution criticized Russia more strongly compared to earlier ones related to the three-year conflict, calling for a “de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities, and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, marked by significant destruction and human suffering, including among civilians, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law.”
Subsequently, the US also supported Russia in a vote at the UN Security Council.
US-Ukraine Relations Deteriorate Following Trump’s Return
Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House last month, relations between the US and Ukraine have become strained.
Recently, he referred to Zelensky as a “dictator” and claimed he is highly unpopular. Trump also urged him to “move fast” to end the conflict, just a day after US and Russian officials conducted talks in Saudi Arabia without the involvement of Kyiv.
After the discussions between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia last Tuesday, Trump labeled the Russia-Ukraine war as “senseless,” emphasizing that it should never have happened.
“Russia wants to take action. They want to stop the barbarism occurring there. Thousands of soldiers, aside from Russians and Ukrainians, including many Koreans, are being killed weekly,” he stated.
Reports indicate that Washington has provided over $60 billion in military assistance to Kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin dispatched tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
In December, Zelensky reported that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 198,000 Russian troops had died in the conflict, while the UN estimates that approximately 12,500 civilians have lost their lives in Ukraine.
(With agency inputs)