There were two resolutions about the war and both passed. There are two different stories of a divided world
The United States (USA) seem to be taking a new direction as to their position in, contrary to the positions they had adopted in the last three years. This Monday, now under the leadership of Donald Trump, Washington DC voted against a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly that reaffirms Kiev’s territorial integrity and condemns the Russian invasion under the term “aggression.”
“This attitude shows a great inconsistency of the US administration that, on the one hand, tries to support a peace plan for the war in Ukraine and, on the other, vote against a resolution that aimed to lead to a ceasefire that would contribute to Peace, ”argues Victor Ângelo, the former UN Deputy Secretary-General, adding that the US” are more busy in maintaining a good relationship with Russia than in a process that leads to the end of the war. “
The text of the resolution, entitled “Promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” was proposed by Ukraine herself and co-patrocined by several European countries. The document, with three pages, highlights the devastation caused by the Russian invasion, which has lasted for three years, and encourages the defense of Ukrainian sovereignty.
However, some clauses of the project did not please the Trump administration, which contradicted the use of the use of the expression “Russian aggression”, having chosen to align with countries such as Russia, Belarus or North Korea, but also Burundi, Eritreia or Palau, which voted against the resolution. Despite this opposition from the United States, once the largest western ally of Ukraine, the resolution was approved with 93 votes in favor and 18 against.
Among the voters there was another factor that jumped in the sight of Tiago André Lopes, specialist in International Relations. “It is nonetheless interesting that the number of states not present in the vote, from the last resolution presented by Ukraine, increased from 13 to 17. Among them stand out Azerbaijan or Georgia, which tendentially are closer to Moscow, but which,, Because they had economic relations with the West, they chose not to be present in the vote, so as not to disappoint Putin. ” The expert also stresses that “the abstention of China is normal, given that, traditionally, the country does not like to adopt tied positions on conflicts.”
UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”; calls for deescalation, early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine
RESULT
In favor: 93
Against: 18
Abstain: 65– a news (@un_news_centre)
The change of US posture
The American decision to vote against the UN resolution is a reflection of a substantial change in US foreign policy that, under Biden Administration, had shown unconditional support to Ukraine. In February 2023, a resolution similar to that which this time gathered the consensus of 93 states, was approved with 141 favorable votes, including Washington DC.
“For the new US administration, Russia has ceased to represent a threat and became just a challenger of law, with whom he wants to negotiate quickly. Voting in favor of Ukrainian Resolution could lead Putin to step back. Something Trump doesn’t want to show that he is truly committed to negotiations, ”believes Tiago André Lopes.
Regarding the reduction in the number of supports compared to the resolution of 2023 – from 141 votes favorable to 93 – Tiago André Lopes has a justification: “The US has a great influence on many countries, but the ineffectiveness of Ukraine over the past few months It didn’t help. The country lost the support of the east almost all, and only remained by its side to Jordan. ”
Victor Angelo adds another justification: “There is a very strong American pressure under countries that, for some reason, need US support. That is, if they want to continue to count on Trump’s help, they should start aligning with the positions of country”. The former UN Deputy Secretary-General gives an example Israel, “who has a fundamentally alignment with Trump and depends a lot on his support, especially in the current conflict situation in which he is also found.” Telavive also voted against Ukraine’s proposal, contrary to what she had done earlier, when she opted for abstention.
UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”; calls for deescalation, early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine
RESULT
In favor: 93
Against: 18
Abstain: 65
– a news (@un_news_centre)
With the growing internal opposition to war and economic wear and tear caused by the conflict, the Trump administration now seems to prioritize the strategic interests of America, distancing itself from commitments established by its predecessor who, from the first moment of war, remained alongside Ukranians . “With this administration, the US has had an eastern foreign policy, where it looks much more at the peace, not so much Europe, that it should solve its own problems,” says Tiago André Lopes.
Victor Ângelo goes further, remembering that “previously we had an administration [de Biden] which respected international law and understood the importance of making an ethical decision having respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country. Now we have a president who is intended to have a divorce between Russia and China, while intending to take advantage of Ukraine’s mineral resources, important to the Americans industry. ”
“We are facing a very weird business. The US attributes military aid to Ukraine in exchange for the mineral resources provided by Kiev, and worth about five times more of the material they provide, ”says the former UN Assistant Secretary-General, who adds that Trump“ looks at Ukraine as Being a business and looks at Russia as an ally, so that it will distance itself from China – the biggest rival in the White House. ”
“Trump won Russia and probably lost Ukraine”
Over the three years of conflict in Ukraine, Russia has been insisting that Western countries, especially the United States, are mainly responsible for the escalation of the conflict, so a change in American posture could be interpreted as an opening to negotiations that favor your interests.
“By voting against Ukrainian Resolution, Trump won Russia and probably lost Ukraine, but just look at the current situation of war to realize that Kiev is clearly at a disadvantage and no longer controls a large part of his territory,” he says Tiago André Lopes.
For Ukraine, Washington DC’s vote against the resolution raises concerns about the continuity of military and diplomatic support he has received since the beginning of the Russian invasion, at a time when “he is not gaining the war.” “Zelensky is not winning the war, so he cannot dictate the terms of negotiations. A vote in favor of Ukraine resolution could lead Russia to take a step back, something Trump doesn’t want right now, ”adds the expert.
Trump causes “a diplomatic removal with Europe”
The approval of the resolution without US support may surprise, but reveals a possible division in the West as to the future of war, which was not the disapproval of the resolution presented by Ukraine.
Also Monday, the Americans decided to present another UN resolution that proposed a “fast end” for the war in Ukraine. The resolution was also approved, this time by the UN Security Council, with the support of Moscow and Beijing, in a vote that struck the latest coup to the western unit.
France and the United Kingdom, permanent members of the Security Council, did not approve of the US measure, because it did not mention the “aggression” of Russia or the territorial integrity of Ukraine, having resorted to abstention. “The fact that the US did not get Europe’s approval in the resolution that showed that we are facing a clear diplomatic removal between Europe and the Trump administration,” argues Tiago André Lopes.
