The United States on Thursday declined to co-sponsor a draft UN General Assembly resolution marking three years since the invasion of Ukraine, according to a source for Interfax-Ukraine.
The resolution, sponsored by more than 50 countries and scheduled for a vote on February 24, condemns Russian aggression and reaffirms a commitment “to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,” addressing territorial integrity under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. According to one anonymous source, the resolution has secured support from more than 50 UN member states.
US President Donald Trump and his officials have engaged in bilateral discussions with Russia to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The discussions have not included Ukrainian representation. Trump recently called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and said he “better move fast” on a deal to end the war with Russia.
In the past, the US has been a co-sponsor to the Emergency Special Session 11 (ES-11) series of resolutions, including the ES-11/6, which marked two years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The UN General Assembly invoked the “Uniting for Peace” mechanism (Resolution 377A(V)) on February 28, 2022, allowing the body to take action after Russia’s veto power prevented the UN Security Council from acting.
Furthermore, former US President Joe Biden signed into law the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, expediting the delivery of military equipment and supplies to Ukraine and allowing the US to provide equipment without requiring immediate payment or specific timelines for repayment.
In March 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian officials regarding alleged war crimes in Ukraine, and the draft UN resolution is set to be voted on against this backdrop. While the vote remains pending, the US withdrawing its backing may result in Ukraine finding it difficult to secure majority support in the General Assembly.
