The United States is advocating for a resolution at the United Nations to commemorate the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war without explicitly emphasizing Kyiv's territorial integrity. This move has created a divide between the U.S. and Ukraine, as well as its European allies, who have proposed a more detailed resolution blaming Russia for the invasion and demanding the removal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
The U.S. draft resolution expresses sorrow for the loss of life during the conflict and reaffirms the U.N.'s role in maintaining international peace and resolving disputes peacefully. It calls for a swift end to the conflict and urges a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
On Monday, the U.N. General Assembly will vote on competing resolutions from the U.S. and Ukraine. The U.S. resolution aligns with President Donald Trump's vision of the U.N. returning to its original purpose of promoting international peace and security through peaceful conflict resolution.
The U.S. is rallying its allies to support its resolution by emphasizing its commitment to ending the war and portraying Ukraine's resolution as an obstacle to achieving lasting peace. The U.S. is also urging the General Assembly to reject any amendments, including one proposed by Russia that addresses the root causes of the conflict.
Despite calls from the U.S., Ukraine has refused to withdraw its resolution, setting the stage for a vote by the 193-nation assembly on Monday. The U.S. is urging all U.N. member states to join in its efforts to bring an end to the war and pave the way for peace.
The strained relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine was highlighted by the exclusion of Ukraine and Europe from recent peace talks between the U.S. and Russia. President Trump's warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace deal swiftly or risk losing the country further underscores this tension.
In response, Zelenskyy expressed readiness to step down from his presidency in exchange for peace in Ukraine or an invitation for the country to join NATO. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is unwilling to negotiate any future that involves Ukraine becoming a NATO member.
