US joins Russia to vote against UN peace plan for Ukraine

The U.S. has now aligned itself with Russia, Israel, Belarus, and North Korea in not directly blaming Vladimir Putin for the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

This stance sets the U.S. apart from many of its Western allies, who have openly condemned Putin for launching the war.

The decision could have significant geopolitical implications, raising questions about Washington’s long-term strategy in the conflict and its relationship with key partners.

Kyiv’s three-page resolution called for an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and insisted that Moscow be held accountable for war crimes.

The demand reflects Ukraine’s ongoing push for justice and international support as the war continues.

The resolution was passed with 93 votes, with every EU country except Hungary backing the motion.

Meanwhile, 18 countries—including the U.S., Russia, and North Korea—voted against it, while 64 nations, including China, chose to abstain. The divided response highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine.

Trump called Ukraine President “dictator”

The UN Security Council later approved the original U.S.-sponsored resolution, with a 10-0 vote in favor and five countries choosing to abstain.

Meanwhile, last week, former U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy by blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the war, even going as far as calling him a “dictator.”

His remarks added to the already heated debate over the conflict and the role of global leaders in addressing it.

Trump said on TruthSocial, “A dictator without elections, Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a country left.”

Trump later acknowledged that Putin had indeed invaded Ukraine but argued that the U.S. and Kyiv should not have let it happen. He also repeated his claim that the war would never have started if he had been president in 2022.

Then, on Monday, when asked whether he considered Putin a dictator, Trump once again avoided using the term. Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, he said he doesn’t use those words lightly.

U.S. warning: World War III not so far

Ukraine and its European allies presented a draft resolution titled “Advancing comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine,” which was put to a vote by the 193-member UN General Assembly on Monday.

In accordance with international law and the UN Charter, the resolution demanded a “de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities, and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, marked by enormous destruction and human suffering, including among the civilian population.”

65 UN members abstained from voting on the resolution, including India. Four of the BRICS nations—Brazil, China, and South Africa—did not participate. Also abstaining were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Syria, Ethiopia, and Argentina.

Among India’s neighbors, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, and Myanmar supported the Europeans in the 93 who voted yes, while Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka abstained.

Russia, the United States, North Korea, Belarus, Hungary, Israel, Haiti, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Mali, the Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, and Sudan were among the 18 countries that voted against the draft resolution.

As the resolution passed, member nations applauded, and the UNGA hall erupted in cheers.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the war in Ukraine severely threatens both European peace and security and the core principles of the UN. The resolution, adopted on the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reinforced his concerns.

Ukraine’s UNGA resolution also underscored the importance of holding those responsible for the most serious crimes under international law accountable for their actions on Ukrainian soil.