Ukrainian servicemen continue to maintain their positions along the front line in response to ongoing military actions from Russia, as the conflict enters its third year, image: AFP
(The Post News) – On the third anniversary of the conflict, the UN General Assembly will vote on two opposing resolutions pertaining to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The United States has presented a competing resolution that calls for a quick end to the war but noticeably omits any reference to Russian aggression, while Ukraine, supported by European countries, has sponsored a resolution calling for Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory.
Following pressure from U.S. officials to revoke Ukraine’s resolution in support of the American proposal, the vote is set for today. Ukraine insisted on pursuing its own proposal in spite of this, and the 193-member General Assembly will now vote on it. The current political situation and the changing nature of international diplomacy since former President Donald Trump’s return to power are highlighted by this impasse between Ukraine and the United States.
European allies are becoming concerned about Trump’s changing position on Ukraine. Accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of being a “dictator” and accusing Kyiv of initiating the conflict, the former president has frequently attacked Zelenskyy. In response, Zelenskyy has dismissed Trump’s comments as being part of a Russian disinformation campaign. Additionally, Trump’s administration has distanced itself from Ukraine’s preferred resolution at the UN, opting to promote its own draft. The U.S. also sought a vote on its proposal in the more influential UN Security Council, where China, holding the council’s presidency this month, has scheduled the vote for Monday afternoon.
The General Assembly is an important forum for non-binding resolutions on international matters because, unlike the Security Council, it does not have the ability to veto them. With widespread international backing, Ukraine’s resolution co-sponsored by all 27 EU members is anticipated to pass. However, the votes will provide a crucial indicator of how the world feels about the crisis.
The General Assembly has passed multiple resolutions denouncing Russia’s actions and calling for an early withdrawal of Russian military since the invasion started in February 2022. These resolutions, however, are legally meaningless. Nevertheless, their passing offers crucial information about the degree of international support for Ukraine’s independence.
The diplomatic situation becomes more complicated with the submission of the competing U.S. resolution. The American version calls for a “swift end” to the conflict, but it makes no mention of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, which has been a pillar of earlier U.S.-backed resolutions under the Biden administration. Vassili Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, expressed support for the American resolution, calling it a “good move” but suggested it should also address the underlying causes of the war.
As the votes approach, European diplomats are bracing for difficult decisions. While some European nations may be uncomfortable with the U.S. proposal, they face the challenge of balancing their positions in the Security Council. A resolution in the Security Council requires the approval of at least nine of its 15 members, without a veto from any of the five permanent members, which include the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, and China. How countries like France and the United Kingdom behave could affect the outcome of this vote; some have speculated that they might decide to abstain rather than veto the resolution.
The vote in the General Assembly is anticipated to demonstrate the extent of world solidarity with Ukraine, as certain nations including Arab nations are becoming increasingly irritated with the conflict’s protracted attention. These votes could signal a shift in how the world responds to the war, including whether Ukraine finds itself more isolated if it doesn’t garner the expected backing.
As tensions mount, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Sunday for a peace settlement that upholds Ukraine’s territorial integrity and adheres to the principles outlined in the UN Charter.
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