In a striking shift in foreign policy, the United States has twice sided with Russia in key United Nations votes marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, signaling a significant change under the Trump administration.
First, the US voted against a European-backed resolution at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, which condemned Russia’s actions and reaffirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This placed the US in alignment with Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and several other nations.
Then, at the UN Security Council, the US introduced and voted for its own resolution calling for an end to the war—without directly criticizing Russia. While the resolution passed, key US allies, including the UK and France, abstained, after their attempts to amend the wording were blocked.
The votes have widened a growing divide between the US and its European allies. The developments coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the White House for high-level talks with President Donald Trump, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Trump later this week.
Trump’s administration has adopted a markedly different approach to the Ukraine war, raising concerns among US allies about Washington’s commitment to European security. The divide was clear on the UNGA floor as US diplomats pushed a resolution calling for an end to hostilities without explicitly condemning Russia, while European nations introduced a stronger text holding Moscow accountable.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa emphasized the need to send a clear message, stating: “We need to reconfirm that aggression should be condemned, not rewarded.”
The European-backed resolution still passed, receiving 93 votes, while the US took the extraordinary step of voting against it, joining Russia, North Korea, Hungary, Israel, Belarus, Sudan, and other nations.
Within the US, the move has drawn sharp criticism. Republican Senator John Curtis called the vote “deeply troubling,” warning that “these are not our friends,” while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it contradicted America’s long-standing support for democracy.
Ukraine’s former minister of economy, Tymofiy Mylovanov, remarked that the US decision to side with Russia was intentional, stating: “This is no longer just rhetoric or political theatre.”
The UNGA also passed the US resolution after amendments were made to include language supporting Ukraine—leading the US to abstain from its own measure. However, the votes underscore a major geopolitical realignment, with growing concerns about the future of US-Europe relations.
