The U.S. has proposed a draft United Nations resolution to commemorate the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, setting up a confrontation with Kyiv and European allies aiming to present their own text to the General Assembly on Monday.
President Donald Trump is mediating to end the conflict in Ukraine, prompting worries among European allies that Kyiv and Europe might be excluded from peace negotiations.
The U.S. draft resolution mourns the lives lost in the conflict and emphasizes the United Nations' role in maintaining international peace, urging a prompt end to the conflict and a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia. Russia has proposed an amendment to address the conflict's root causes.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described the U.S. draft as a positive step and indicated Russian support if their amendment is accepted.
The General Assembly is scheduled to vote on Ukraine and the EU's text, which calls for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution in line with international law and the U.N. Charter.
EU ambassadors will convene to discuss the U.S. move, while Ukraine and the EU have been engaging with U.N. member states to garner support for their resolution. Although General Assembly resolutions are not mandatory, they carry significant political weight in reflecting global sentiment on the conflict.
The Ukrainian and EU text emphasizes the urgent need to halt the war this year and intensify diplomatic efforts for lasting peace in Ukraine, adopting a somewhat gentler tone compared to past resolutions that condemned Russian aggression more explicitly.
It underscores the importance of implementing prior U.N. resolutions demanding Russia's troop withdrawal from Ukraine and an end to hostilities. Previous General Assembly resolutions have consistently denounced Moscow's actions and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity.