On the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the United States voted in the same way as Russia on two resolutions at the UN General Assembly meeting on 25 February.

First the US joined its new ally Russia and other countries such as North Korea and Belarus in voting against a Ukrainian resolution condemning Moscow’s actions and supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Then the US voted for its own resolution which called for an end to the war but failed to criticise Russia.

On behalf of European States, France proposed amendments L.13, L.14 and L.15 to the US resolution, amendments which added references to Moscow’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the need for a “just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation in line with the Charter of the United Nations”.  France’s representative stressed that “it is a vote for international law”, and that a conflict resolution without Ukraine and Europe would establish “a primacy of force over law”.

For its part, the Russian Federation sought to insert a reference to “root causes” of the conflict by tabling an amendment, L.12.  Its representative noted that that the world has found itself on the brink of a third World War due to “the anti-Russian project called Ukraine”.  Stressing that the “Zelenskyy formula” and the “Bürgenstock process” are not viable, he noted “everyone who is going to press the button today” can choose a text divorced from reality or one offering practical steps to peace.  The United States’ text is a step in the right direction, he added.