UN adopts Ukraine, European-drafted resolutions on war
Reuters. The United States abstained on Monday (February 24) in a United Nations vote on a resolution it drafted to mark the third anniversary of war in Ukraine after the General Assembly agreed to add language supportive of Kyiv to Washington’s text.
The original U.S. draft was three paragraphs – mourning the loss of life during the “Russia-Ukraine conflict”, reiterating that the U.N.’s main purpose is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes, and urging a swift end to the conflict and lasting peace.
But European amendments added references to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the need for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in line with the founding U.N. Charter and reaffirmed the U.N.’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity.
The amended U.S.-drafted resolution won 93 votes in favor, while 73 states abstained and eight voted no.
Earlier the United Nations Security Council on Monday (February 24) adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that takes a neutral position on the conflict as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to broker peace.
Until now, the 15-member council has been unable to take any action on the conflict in Ukraine because Russia is a veto power. The U.S. resolution received 10 votes in favor, while France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained.
“This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one, one of which we should all be proud,” acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea told the council. “Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community.”
The short resolution mourns the loss of life in the “Russia-Ukraine conflict,” reiterates the U.N.’s purpose is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes, and urges a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace.
