The United States has proposed a draft resolution at the United Nations (UN) that uses less critical language regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine compared to the draft introduced by the European Union (EU) and Ukraine. The two documents are set to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, with the UN General Assembly expected to vote on the resolutions, reports RFE.
The U.S. draft, presented on February 21, condemns the “tragic loss of lives in the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” calls for its end, and advocates for a long-term peace. However, it does not mention the territory occupied by Russia or single out Moscow as the source of the conflict.
In contrast, the EU and Ukrainian draft describes the war as “a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation” and demands the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces. The resolution emphasizes diplomatic efforts to end the war this year, condemns Russia for initiating the conflict, and reaffirms the commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The resolutions are circulating at the UN amid disagreements between the U.S. and Europe on how to approach negotiations for ending the war. The transatlantic alliance has been shaken following U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration’s decision to begin talks with Russia earlier in the week in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian or EU representation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the February 18 meeting in Riyadh and responded by accusing Trump of living in a “disinformation space” created by Russia. Trump countered by wrongly blaming Zelensky for allowing the war’s onset and labeling him as a “dictator without elections.”
The U.S. resolution has been deemed a positive step by Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, who suggested adding the phrase “including addressing root causes,” which would change the final sentence of the document to call for “a swift end to the war, including addressing root causes, and a call for lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.”
While the UN General Assembly lacks the binding authority of the Security Council, where permanent members have veto power, its resolutions carry global attention. The assembly has already passed six resolutions regarding the conflict since 2022, including condemning Moscow and calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops.
