Fourth Anniversary of Russia-Ukraine War: UN Adopts Resolution Supporting Ukraine... United States Abstains

"Call for an Immediate and Unconditional Ceasefire"
U.S.: "We Abstained Due to Language Hindering Negotiations"

Reuters Yonhap News

On the 24th (local time), the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations adopted a resolution in support of Ukraine. The resolution includes content condemning Russia's aggression and recommending an immediate ceasefire. However, the United States abstained, saying that some parts of the resolution could hinder negotiations to end the war.

At the UN General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York on this day, the resolution in support of Ukraine was adopted with 107 votes in favor out of 170 member states, including South Korea. The resolution expresses concern that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has continued into its fourth year, causing serious and long-term consequences for Ukraine and regional and international stability, and reaffirms strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

It also expresses deep concern over Russia's intensified attacks on Ukrainian civilian facilities, civilians, and energy infrastructure, as well as the severe deterioration of the humanitarian situation, and urges both countries to implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

Twelve countries, including Russia, North Korea, and Belarus, voted against the resolution. Fifty-one countries, including the United States and China, abstained. Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations Tammy Bruce explained that the United States abstained because "the text contains language that could hinder, rather than support, diplomatic efforts to end the war."

The UN Security Council also held a formal meeting in the afternoon with Ukraine on the agenda, but did not adopt any separate resolution or statement. In the Security Council, no action related to the war in Ukraine has been able to pass because Russia, a permanent member, holds veto power.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement read out by UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo at the Security Council meeting that day, said, "We have witnessed the cascading consequences of this blatant violation of international law," and stressed, "Now is the time to achieve an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire."