US twice sides with Russia at UN, highlighting shift in Trump administration stance on Ukraine

Marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has twice aligned with Moscow at the United Nations, signaling a dramatic shift in the Trump administration’s foreign policy.

The first instance occurred at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), where the US and Russia opposed a European-led resolution condemning Moscow’s actions and affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Despite US opposition, the resolution passed with 93 votes in favor.

Next, at the UN Security Council, the US drafted its own resolution calling for an end to the conflict but notably omitting any criticism of Russia. The resolution passed with 10 votes, though key European allies—including the UK and France—abstained after their proposed amendments were vetoed.

The disagreement at the UN underscores a deepening transatlantic rift, with Trump’s White House courting Moscow and raising doubts about US support for European security. The tensions were further highlighted as French President Emmanuel Macron met with Trump at the White House, attempting to bridge policy differences. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to visit Washington on Thursday for similar discussions.

European diplomats were quick to denounce the US stance, with Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa declaring: “We need to reconfirm that aggression should be condemned and discredited, not rewarded.”

While the UNGA remains the primary forum for addressing the war, its resolutions are non-binding, unlike those of the UN Security Council, where Russia holds veto power, effectively stalling any binding international action against it.