US Proposes Controversial UN Resolution on Ukraine Conflict
On Friday, the United States put forward a resolution to the United Nations regarding the Ukraine conflict, notably omitting any references to territories currently occupied by Russia. According to sources from AFP, Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged UN member states to endorse this “simple, historic” resolution. This proposal emerges amid rising tensions between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Trump downplaying the importance of Zelensky’s involvement in peace negotiations.
The US draft appears to counter a separate proposal from Kyiv and its European allies, whom Trump has attempted to exclude from discussions concerning the resolution of the ongoing war. This Ukrainian-European document stresses the importance of renewing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict this year. It also assigns blame to Russia for the invasion while reaffirming support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Key Differences in Resolutions
The Ukrainian-European draft reaffirms previous UN General Assembly calls for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, a demand that has received widespread backing, with approximately 140 out of 193 member states voting in favor. In contrast, the US proposal, which advocates for a “swift end to the conflict,” notably fails to mention Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This omission has raised eyebrows, especially as Moscow’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, praised the US initiative as a “good move,” albeit with the caveat that it does not address the underlying issues of the conflict.
Rubio emphasized the importance of the US resolution, stating, “The United States has proposed a simple, historic resolution in the United Nations that we urge all member states to support in order to chart a path to peace.” However, he did not provide specifics regarding the resolution’s contents, leaving many questions unanswered.
A Shift in UN Approach
In a notable shift from previous resolutions traditionally supported by Washington, this new draft is prepared ahead of a General Assembly meeting scheduled for Monday, coinciding with the third anniversary of the war. Unlike earlier documents, this proposal refrains from criticizing Moscow. Instead, it opens with a somber acknowledgment of the tragic loss of life caused by the conflict.
The draft further asserts that the primary mission of the United Nations is to uphold “international peace and security,” but it deliberately avoids attributing blame to Moscow as the instigator of the conflict. This approach has drawn criticism from various quarters.
International Reactions and Concerns
France’s ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Riviere, indicated that he had no immediate comments on the US proposal. Meanwhile, Richard Gowan from the International Crisis Group expressed concerns regarding the implications of the US draft. He described it as a stripped-down text that fails to condemn Russian aggression or explicitly acknowledge Ukraine’s territorial integrity, suggesting that it could be seen as a betrayal of Kyiv and a slight against the EU.
Gowan further warned that this approach reflects a disregard for essential principles of international law, stating, “I think even many states that favor a swift conclusion to the war will be concerned that the US is neglecting fundamental elements of the UN Charter.” This sentiment highlights the precarious balance of international relations and the need for a comprehensive approach to the ongoing conflict.
