Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Russia-Ukraine war
The United Nations General Assembly recently voted on a resolution condemning Russia on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The resolution was written jointly by the European Union and Ukraine and called for the withdrawal of Russian forces. The United States introduced another resolution, though, which did not condemn Russian aggression but instead called for an immediate halt to hostilities. The US resolution was a shift in policy by President Donald Trump, who has taken a different approach to the war than the leaders in Europe.
The EU-Ukrainian resolution was voted for by 93 countries, while 18 countries, including the US, Russia, Belarus, and North Korea, voted against it. This was a strong split between Washington and its European partners. The vote followed as Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron and sat down with G7 leaders to discuss the future of NATO and whether there could be peace talks. Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also emphasized Europe's need to be less dependent on the United States.
Trump has demanded direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, without Ukraine included in the talks. He has also pushed Kyiv to sign a rare earths and critical minerals deal to balance against US aid costs. Trump declared that talks with Putin on ending the war and US-Russia economic relations were progressing well. The US resolution in the UN was an expression of that stance, avoiding any blame for Russia and instead urging a general path to peace.
The US resolution was opposed by Ukraine and its European partners, who interpreted it as an effort to legitimize Russia's invasion. US diplomats made concerted efforts to persuade European and Ukrainian representatives to drop their resolution in favor of the US draft. But Ukraine and the EU went ahead with their resolution, gaining wider international support.
Despite the diplomatic action, both motions were symbolic in that they directly influenced the war. The widening of the fissure between America and Europe concerning the method with which to fight the conflict presents a change in the international political balance. Even as Europe insists on opposition of Russian aggression, the Trump Administration in the US is moving contrary to that route, favoring one on one talks with Russia over coordinated world pressure.
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