Earlier on Monday, the UN General Assembly adopted a Ukrainian resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine – despite the US voting against it.
The US’s separate resolution was changed so much before it was put to a vote that the US itself abstained. However, all amendments were rejected when the Security Council subsequently voted.
General Assembly resolutions are not binding – but are seen as a barometer of world opinion.
EU countries in support
Of the General Assembly’s 193 member states, 93 voted in favor of the Ukrainian proposal, 18 against, and 65 abstained. Several nations were absent. This means lower support than in previous votes, when over 140 countries condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and demanded that the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia be returned.
The US did the same as Russia and its allies Belarus, North Korea, and Sudan, and voted against.
The resolution, which has the support of all EU countries, was approved before a vote on an American proposal that demands a swift end to the war but does not mention Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Reformulated version
In the American draft, sorrow is expressed over the “tragic loss of life in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict”. It also calls for a “swift end to the conflict”, including “addressing its root causes”. The latter was added at Russia’s request.
The General Assembly reformulated the American version so much – including phrases about Russia being behind the large-scale invasion and recognizing Ukraine’s territorial integrity – that the US ultimately abstained from voting on the proposal as well. It was then also put to a vote and approved with 93 yes-votes, including Ukraine’s.
Corrected: An earlier version of the text contained incorrect information about the outcome of the US proposal and the US vote.
