The United States is pushing for a U.N. Security Council vote on a concise draft resolution marking the third anniversary of the conflict on Monday, before the General Assembly's meeting. U.S. diplomats have been in negotiations for a month with U.N. member states on their resolution for the war, set for a General Assembly vote on Monday.
If the Security Council adopts the U.S. draft on Monday morning, the U.S. and Russia can argue against the need for the General Assembly to vote on a resolution from Ukraine and Europe. The Security Council meeting on Ukraine scheduled for Monday afternoon awaits a decision from China, its current president for February, on the rescheduling request from Washington.
For a council resolution to pass, it needs at least nine votes in favor without any vetoes from the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, or France. The U.S. is actively lobbying for support for its draft, while European nations are also seeking backing for their General Assembly resolution. Notably, the U.S. draft does not explicitly mention Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity.
In urging support for the resolution, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "Through support of this resolution, we affirm that this conflict is awful, that the U.N. can help end it, and that peace is possible." The move comes after news that Ukraine and the EU had drafted a resolution, followed by Washington proposing its version to the General Assembly for Monday's vote and subsequently giving the same draft to the Security Council.
This U.S. initiative at the U.N. aligns with efforts by President [Name] to facilitate peace talks concerning the war in Ukraine, eliciting concerns from European allies about their inclusion in negotiations. The upcoming General Assembly session has been categorized as an "emergency special session" due to the Security Council's perceived failure in peace and security maintenance throughout the conflict.
Should the Security Council adopt the U.S. resolution on Monday morning, the U.S. and Russia could argue against convening the General Assembly for further action. The text of the U.S. draft emphasizes the importance of international peace and security, mourning the casualties in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict," and calling for a swift end to the war while urging a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
Russia has submitted an amendment to the U.S. draft, suggesting additional language about addressing the root causes of the conflict, to be voted upon by the General Assembly. In response, Ukraine's Foreign Minister criticized Russia's proposed amendment, pointing to the denial of Ukraine's right to exist as a trigger for the conflict.
The war initiated by Russia in February 2022 has been labeled a "special military operation" aimed at "denazifying" Ukraine and countering NATO expansion to the east. The U.N. text authored by Ukraine and the EU emphasizes the urgent need to end the conflict this year and intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation.
The draft underscores the need for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine's internationally recognized territory and cease hostilities, aligning with previous U.N. resolutions. While General Assembly resolutions lack binding authority, they carry significant political weight, offering a reflection of global sentiment. Notably, no country possesses veto power within the assembly.