US urges countries to vote no on rival European bid for action

24/2/2025 12:38

The United States is urging the United Nations General Assembly to back its resolution to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday, oppose any amendments and vote no on a rival text drafted by Ukraine and European allies.



In a diplomatic note sent on Sunday, the United States described its brief resolution as "a forward-looking resolution focused on one simple idea: ending the war."



It said, "Through this resolution, Member States can build real momentum towards international peace and security, the maintenance of which is the principal purpose of the United Nations," asking countries to "vote no on any other resolution or amendments presented" during Monday's meeting.



The U.S. draft resolution, put forward on Friday, pits it against Ukraine and the European Union, which have for the past month been negotiating with U.N. member states on their own resolution on the war in Ukraine, which repeats the U.N. demand that Russia withdraw its troops and halt hostilities.



The 193-member U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly repeatedly backed Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders since the war began. The U.S. draft makes no reference to that.