The US voted in favor of Russia at the UN: What does it mean? 

At the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly in late February, the United States joined Russia in voting against placing blame on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine in 2021 on three U.N. resolutions. The vote was a divergence from previous relations, as European allies voted in favor of the same resolutions. 

The votes on the resolutions included one Europe-backed resolution that highlighted Moscow’s aggression and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. On another resolution, the U.S. abstained from voting on a competing resolution that attacked Europeans. 

While the U.N. assembly votes are a measure of global opinion and not legally binding, the U.S. pushed for a vote on the original draft of the second resolution in the U.N. Security Council, where decisions are legally binding. 

The result from that vote was 10-0 with five European countries abstaining. The countries that abstained were Britain, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia. 

These votes come as divides between the U.S. and its allies widen. A week before, the U.S. and Russia met to discuss the conflict. In this discussion, President Donald Trump implied that Ukraine is to blame for the war. In response to Ukraine’s objections to being excluded from this meeting, Trump stated, “You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.” 

Many European allies have taken issue with Trump’s disregard to them in favor of direct negotiation with Russia. French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron organized a meeting with European leaders shortly after the U.S. meeting. 

Divisions between the U.S. and Ukraine are also becoming more significant, especially after the meeting with Russia and Trump calling President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.” President Trump has additionally made false claims that Ukraine started the war and has called for the country to end the conflict. 

Many people believe that the recent shift in power from President Joe Biden to Trump is largely responsible for the growing tensions between the U.S. and its allies. 

Elliott Camel, a freshman biology major at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who has “been following most of the events [of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine] since they took place,” weighed in on the conversation. 

Camel said, “I believe that there is a significant shift in the mindset due to the recent change of power in the executive office.” 

“I now believe that, while the United States and Russia are seeking a cease fire agreement, I have reason to believe that the United States is more interested in ending the conflict and appeasing Russia rather than defending Ukraine, and I believe that we have given up some of our patriotic and democratic values for the sake of an easy out, so to speak.” 

When asked to expand on the significance of the change in power, Camel noted Trump’s campaign promises to end the war in Ukraine. He went further to explain the problem he sees in the president’s method of ending the war. He said, “While trying to make do on his promises, he’s neglecting what is actually being fought for, which is the right of Ukraine to have their own sovereignty, free from Russian oppression.” 

Another UL Lafayette student, senior criminal justice major Freddie Albert, weighed in on the conversation. When asked about what he believed the significance of the votes were, Albert said, “It’s definitely not surprising, considering who’s in office.” 

He added, “I guess it is significant, but it’s not surprising.” Albert shared his hopes for the end of the conflict, saying, “In a perfect world, in an ideal world, we would all sit down and we’ll talk it out.” 

Albert expressed that his actual expectations for the war were more bleak. He said that he expects, “Probably a lot of people dying, and it sounds very scary and it’s very messed up, but that sounds like what it’s going to be if things keep trending towards what I’m seeing. So, hopefully, I’m wrong. Hopefully, I’m very wrong.” 

Sydney Jones, a freshman political science major, also added to the conversation. She expressed her hopes for the end of the war, saying that she wants to see a reduction in global tensions and peace. “I’m pretty sure everybody wants world peace, and that’s one thing that, throughout the years, people will say that we will never get, but I still feel like a resolution.” 

“We have to ensure long term stability in the region.” She continued, “Support for Ukraine, stronger international law enforcement, accountability for war crimes, and things of that nature.” 

The world continues to watch as ceasefire deals are discussed and war continues to wage in Ukraine. 

The United States’s response will be crucial to how the conflict continues to develop, and the votes at the U.N. give a clearer understanding of Trump’s intentions.