The US joined Russia to vote in opposition to a UN decision on the Ukraine conflict – and abstained from voting on one it drafted after amendments proposed by European nations have been added.
The 193-member meeting accredited a US-drafted decision, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which had initially referred to as for an finish to the battle however didn’t point out Moscow’s aggression.
It additionally made no point out of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Nonetheless, it was amended after European nations mentioned that it ought to embrace references to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the necessity for an enduring peace consistent with the UN Constitution.
It was additionally amended to incorporate references to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The amended US-drafted decision gained 93 votes in favour, whereas 73 states abstained – together with the US – and eight – together with Russia – voted no.
On the identical day, the UN Normal Meeting accredited a European-backed decision from Ukraine which demanded Russia instantly withdraw from the nation.
There have been additionally 93 votes in favour of this decision, whereas 65 abstained and 18 voted in opposition to it.
The UK, France and Germany have been among the many nations that voted in favour of the Ukraine-backed decision, which referred to as for a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.
The US, Russia, Belarus and North Korea have been amongst people who opposed it.
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The US voted in opposition to Ukraine’s decision. Pic: AP
The duelling proposals replicate the tensions which have emerged between the US and Ukraine after Donald Trump abruptly opened negotiations with Russia in a bid to shortly resolve the battle.
It additionally underscores the pressure within the US’ relationship with Europe over the Trump administration’s determination to interact with Moscow.
The result marks a setback for the Trump administration within the UN Normal Meeting, whose resolutions usually are not legally binding however are seen as a barometer of world opinion.
Nonetheless, later within the day, the UN Safety Council accredited the US decision calling for an finish to conflict in Ukraine – however with out mentioning Russia’s aggression. The decision acquired 10 votes in favour, whereas the remaining 5 members – together with France and the UK – abstained.
Dame Barbara Woodward, the UK’s ambassador to the United Nations, mentioned after the UN Safety Council accredited the movement: “What, how and on what terms this war ends can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine.
“No peace will likely be sustainable with out Ukraine’s consent.
“We regret that our proposals making these points clear were not taken on board, and as such we could not support this resolution.
“However we share the ambition to discover a lasting finish to this conflict, supported by strong safety preparations that guarantee Ukraine by no means once more has to face Russia’s assault.”
It came after the results in the General Assembly had showed some diminished support for Ukraine – as more than 140 nations had voted to condemn Russia’s aggression in previous votes.
The United States had tried to pressure the Ukrainians to withdraw their resolution in favour of its proposal, according to a US official and a European diplomat.
US deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea, meanwhile, said multiple previous UN resolutions condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops “have didn’t cease the conflict,” which “has now dragged on for a lot too lengthy and at far too horrible a price to the folks in Ukraine and Russia and past”.
“What we want is a decision marking the dedication from all UN member states to convey a sturdy finish to the conflict,” Ms Shea mentioned.
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Dorothy Shea mentioned the conflict has ‘dragged on too lengthy’. Pic: Reuters
The world is marking the third anniversary of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine as America’s allies attempt to navigate a brand new actuality as Washington’s stance seems to favour Moscow.
European leaders have been dismayed final week after they and Ukraine have been neglected of preliminary talks on ending the battle.
Mr Trump has referred to as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator,” falsely accused Kyiv of beginning the conflict and warned that he “better move fast or he is not going to have a country left”.
Mr Zelenskyy responded by saying the US president was residing in a Russian-made “disinformation space”.
In the meantime, French President Emmanuel Macron is on the White Home holding talks with Mr Trump to debate a peace plan for Ukraine.
Firstly of the assembly, Mr Trump instructed reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin will settle for European peacekeepers in Ukraine as a part of a possible deal to finish the conflict within the nation.
Mr Trump and Mr Macron have been assembly after the pair had earlier joined a name between G7 leaders.
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Trump on Ukraine’s territory: ‘We’ll see’
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who will meet with Mr Trump on the White Home on Thursday, appeared nearly and mentioned G7 nations must be able to “take on more risk”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in Kyiv, referred to as Russia’s aggression a conflict on “our way of life”.
European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen mentioned Europe’s “first priority” is to strengthen Ukraine’s resistance.
She mentioned this consists of dashing up the supply of weapons and growing funding, saying an additional €3.5bn (about £3bn) in assist for Ukraine.
