US betrays Ukraine at United Nations
UN General Assembly members approved a resolution supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity on Feb. 24, the day marking the third anniversary of Russia's massive invasion of the country. The resolution won 93 votes in favor, with 18 votes against, with 65 abstentions. Washington sided with Russia, as well as Belarus, North Korea and Sudan, to vote against the measure. Hungary, Israel, Eritrea, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Nicaragua also voted against. China and Iran were among the abstentions. The US had declined to co-sponsor the resolution, instead pushing its own language that failed to blame Russia for the war or mention Ukraine's borders.
In the past, the US has been a co-sponsor to the Emergency Special Session 11 (ES-11) series of resolutions, including the ES-11/6, which marked two years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The General Assembly invoked the "Uniting for Peace" mechanism (Resolution 377A(V)) on Feb. 28, 2022, which allows the body to take action after Russia's veto power prevented the UN Security Council from acting. (Moscow Times, Kyiv Independent, Axios, Jurist)
Tensions between the US and Ukraine escalated on Feb. 19 when Trump on social media called President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator without elections" and accused him of starting the war with Russia three years ago. Zelensky retorted that Trump lives in a "web of disinformation." The insults came a day after senior US and Russian officials discussed ending the war during a meeting in Riyadh, to which Ukraine was not invited. Zelensky said the meeting served only as a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin, effectively bringing him back from his diplomatic isolation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after the meeting that peace would require concessions from both sides. Russian officials have not publicly offered any concessions but reportedly demanded that Ukraine commit to neutrality and not be allowed to join the NATO military alliance.
Also Feb. 20, Zelensky met in Kyiv with Trump's Ukraine and Russia envoy, Keith Kellogg, and said the meeting gave him hope. But a joint press conference afterwards was cancelled, at the request of the US. China has come out in support of Trump's negotiations with Russia, while European leaders have said they are considering sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. (TNH)
UNGA adopts competing resolutions on Ukraine
The UN General Assembly adopted two competing resolutions concerning Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. The two resolutions, proposed by Ukraine and the US, both called for the maintenance of international peace and security. Nonetheless, the United States' draft described the invasion as a "conflict," marking a significant departure from its previous position.
Ukraine and 52 other countries tabled their resolution, titled "Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine," on February 18. The resolution condemned Russian military actions, describing the aggression as causing "dire human rights and humanitarian consequences." It urged Russia to withdraw all its military forces from Ukraine, exchange prisoners of war and release unlawfully detained persons, and adhere to international human rights law and humanitarian law.
The UNGA adopted Ukraine's resolution, with 93 member states voting in favor, 18 voting against the resolution and 65 abstentions. The US voted against Ukraine’s motion and proposed another resolution, "The path to peace." This resolution reiterated the UN principle to maintain international peace and security through the peaceful settlement of disputes. However, the resolution described the invasion as "the Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict." Proposing the resolution, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea claimed that Ukraine's resolution did not adhere to UN principles, and called for its withdrawal.
The UNGA and the Security Council also adopted this resolution with an EU-proposed amendment, mentioning the "invasion" of Ukraine by Russia, and Ukraine's territorial integrity. The amendment passed, with the US voting against the amendment and then abstainig from its own resolution.
This marked a significant departure from the previous US stance. US Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) deplored the change, stating: "This vote is a disgrace. Trump’s senseless betrayal of the alliances that have kept Americans safe since World War II and his fealty to the murderous aggressor Putin are a national security threat." (Jurist)