U.S. votes against UN resolution condemning Russia for Ukraine invasion
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The U.S. voted against a UN resolution Monday condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, siding with Moscow and other non-democratic countries like North Korea, Belarus and Sudan.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has found itself increasingly isolated on the world stage as it seeks to broker peace on the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
State of play: The three-page resolution presented by Ukraine condemned Russia's "aggression" and called for the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
- The U.S. was one of just 18 countries to vote against the resolution, pitting the Trump administration against 93 member states, including much of the European Union.
- It was the first time since the Russian invasion began that the U.S. voted against a resolution backed by Ukraine.
- 65 member states, including China and Iran, abstained from the vote.
The U.S. was more successful at the UN security council on Monday.
- The council adopted a U.S. led resolution calling for a "swift end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine."
- The vote was another sign for the growing split between the U.S. and it's Western allies when five European countries: UK, France, Sloveni, Greece and Denmark abstained.
- However, the U.S. was supported by Russia, China, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea and four other countries.
Driving the news: In recent days, the Trump administration had been trying to pressure Ukraine to back off from presenting the resolution — the latest in a series of diplomatic moves critical of Kyiv.
- When these efforts failed, the U.S. started pushing numerous countries to instead support a rival resolution that mourned the loss of life and called for a "swift end to the conflict."
- The U.S.-backed resolution, which was just three paragraphs, did not blame Russia for starting the war.
- "A simple, historic statement from the General Assembly that looks forward, not backwards. A resolution focused on one, simple idea: Ending the war," acting UN ambassador Dorothy Shea said in a speech urging member states to adopt the resolution.
The intrigue: During the UN general assembly meeting on Monday, several European countries proposed amendments to the U.S. text that explicitly mentioned the Russian invasion and Ukraine's territorial integrity.
- The European amendments were then adopted with the support of 93 member states — forcing the U.S. into the awkward position of abstaining from its own draft resolution.
- "I would rather not explain it now, but it's sort of self evident I think," Trump told reporters Monday when asked why the U.S. opposed Ukraine's resolution.
Editor's note: This story has been updating with information from the U.N. security council meeting.
