In Ukraine policy, the trenches between Europe and the USA are becoming increasingly clear. The UN Security Council accepted a Russia-friendly US resolution late in the evening. Hours earlier, the UN General Assembly had passed a Russian resolution.
The UN Security Council voted for a resolution introduced by the United States, which calls for an end to the war in Ukraine without mentioning Russian aggression. Ten members voted with yes when voting. In contrast, all five European countries of the Council contained: Great Britain, France, Slovenia, Denmark and Greece.
British and French theoretically have veto law, but this has not been used since 1989. Resolutions in the UN Security Council are binding under international law. The passed paper entitled “The Way to Peace” does not names Moscow as an aggressor of the war and does not demand a Russian retreat, a reminder is only a quick end to the war.
UN general assembly Right for Russia -critical resolution
Just hours earlier, the UN General Assembly had voted on the third anniversary of the beginning of the Russian invasion for a resolution to immediately deduct Russian armed forces. When voting in the body, which has 193 members, a draft presented by Ukraine and European states voted 93 states with yes and 18 with no. There were 65 abstentions. The approval was under the previous Ukraine resolutions, in which more than 140 countries condemned Russian aggression and a withdrawal of the annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
The general assembly then changed a competing resolution proposal from the United States, which demanded a quick end to the war, but did not mention Russia's march into Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The draft resolution was supplemented by a wording that makes it clear that Russia attacked its smaller neighbors while injuring the UN Charter. 93 countries voted for the changed draft. Eight voted no. There were 73 abstentions – also from the USA. Both resolutions are not legally binding.
The United States had put Ukraine under pressure to withdraw its draft resolution. However, Kyiv refused. Vice Foreign Minister Mariana Beza said that her country made use of his “right to self-defense” against the Russian invasion, which violates the demand of the UN Charter that countries respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations.
