The United States has called on the United Nations General Assembly to support Washington’s resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday, reject any amendments, and vote against a rival text drafted by Ukraine and European allies.
In a diplomatic note sent on Sunday and reviewed by news agency “Reuters,” the United States described their brief resolution as “forward-looking and centered on a simple idea: the end of the war.”
“Through this resolution, member states can build real momentum toward peace and international security, the maintenance of which is a fundamental goal of the United Nations,” the US diplomatic note states, urging countries to “vote ‘no’ against any resolution or amendment presented” during Monday’s meeting.
The US draft resolution, submitted on Friday, pits it against Ukraine and the European Union, who in recent months have been negotiating with UN member states over their resolution calling for the end of the war in Ukraine, which reiterates the UN’s demand for Russia to withdraw its troops and cease hostilities, reports Nacionale.
The UN General Assembly, with 193 member states, has repeatedly and overwhelmingly supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders since the start of the war. The US draft resolution does not reference these principles.
The US text laments the loss of life during the “Russia-Ukraine conflict,” reiterates that the primary goal of the UN is to maintain peace and international security, and seeks a peaceful resolution of disputes. The text “calls for a swift end to the conflict and further urges sustainable peace between Ukraine and Russia.”
The UN Security Council, with 15 member states, is also expected to vote on the same US text later on Monday, diplomats said. In this body, a draft resolution needs at least nine “yes” votes and no vetoes from the five permanent members — the US, Russia, China, the UK, and France — to be adopted.
The General Assembly is expected to vote on several proposed amendments to the US draft resolution.
Russia has proposed an amendment to the American draft to address the “root causes” of the war. Russia refers to the conflict in Ukraine as a “special military operation” aimed at “denazifying” the state and halting NATO’s expansion.
The UK and 24 EU member states have also proposed amendments to the US draft in the General Assembly.
They want to describe the conflict as a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation,” support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and call for “a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace” in line with the UN Charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but they carry political weight as they reflect the global view on the war. No state has veto power in this UN body.
