United Nations: General Assembly passes two Resolutions on the war in Ukraine
February 24, 2025, marked the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. On 24th February, the United Nations General Assembly adopted two opposing resolutions aimed at resolving the war, but show a fundamental divergence within the texts. One resolution was proposed by the United States and the other by Ukraine.
Co-sponsored by a number of European states, Ukraine's Resolution denounced Russia's invasion and called for a commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. It demanded fair and free investigations at national and international levels of the crimes committed by Russia. Meanwhile, the brief Resolution tabled by the United States titled “Path to Peace” did not mention the invasion and the crime of aggression committed by Russia, but called for a lasting peace between the two countries. Following the proposed amendments to the US text by the European Union and Russia, the United States abstained from voting on its motion.
The Ukrainian Resolution (A/RES/ES-11/7) was passed with 93 votes in favour and 18 against. The United States and Russia both voted against Ukraine’s resolution which marked a significant departure from the previous US position in February 2023. The U.S. proposed version was also approved (A/RES/ES-11/8) with 93 votes in favour, 8 against, and 73 abstentions, containing the approved EU-proposed changes. Due to modifications made by the EU, the United States did not vote on its own amended resolution. This vote demonstrates the widening gap in the Ukraine conflict between the United States and its European allies.
A vote was also held at the Security Council on the United States Resolution (S/RES/2774 (2025)), where it was passed without any amendments with 10 voting in favour of the resolution and five abstentions with no one against it. The head of United Nations Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, in her briefing of the Security Council members stated that the Russian aggression “undermined the very foundations of international order” as it claimed the lives of thousands of Ukrainian civilians which also included children. She also reiterated that the peace in Ukraine should be “just, sustainable, and comprehensive”.