UN General Assembly adopts resolution on Ukraine – US and Russia vote against

On Monday, February 24, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution submitted by Ukraine and its partners with 93 votes in favor, while Russia and the United States voted against it.

The resolution, which demands the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, received support from 93 countries, with 18 voting against and 65 abstaining. Among those opposing the resolution were the United States, Russia, Hungary, and Israel, while China abstained.

Titled “Promoting a Comprehensive, Just, and Lasting Peace in Ukraine,” the resolution was introduced by Ukraine along with over 50 other nations, including most European countries.

Additionally, the General Assembly passed a separate resolution on Ukraine proposed by the United States with 89 votes in favor. The initial text of the American resolution did not explicitly identify Russia as the aggressor or call for the withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied territories. However, amendments were made to replace the phrase “conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine” with “full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.” Following these modifications, the revised American resolution secured enough votes for adoption, with Russia voting against it and the US abstaining.

The Ukrainian-led resolution echoes the spirit of a similar resolution adopted by the General Assembly on February 23, 2023, marking the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. At that time, 141 UN member states voted in favor, while only seven, including Russia and its allies, opposed it.

This latest resolution explicitly labels Russia’s actions as aggression, reaffirms Ukraine’s sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, and calls for a long-term peace based on the principle of territorial integrity. It demands that Russia fully and unconditionally withdraw its armed forces from Ukrainian territory and cease all military actions against Ukraine, including attacks on civilians and infrastructure.

In contrast to Ukraine’s detailed resolution, the US proposal was a brief nine-line document that merely called on Ukraine and Russia to establish lasting peace without specifying the conditions or identifying the aggressor and the victim of aggression.