US sides with Russia at UN vote on Ukraine in huge policy shift; India abstains

In a stark shift from its longstanding foreign policy, the United States, along with Russia and other allies.

Voted on Monday against a United Nations resolution–backed by most of Europe–demanding Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine and condemning the war. Meanwhile, India abstained from voting. This was the first time the US voted in alignment with Russia since the start of the Ukraine-Russia war.

While the US sided with Russia, Israel, North Korea, and 14 other Moscow-aligned nations in opposing the resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine and demanding the return of occupied territory, the resolution was overwhelmingly approved by the UN General Assembly, with 93 votes in favour, 18 against, and 65 abstentions.

The resolution, which strongly criticises Russia and emphasises Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders, said “with concern the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has persisted for three years and continues to have devastating and long-lasting consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for other regions and global stability”.

It called for “a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine”. Along with India, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, China, and Iran also abstained from voting. Ukraine’s European allies expressed unanimous support for the US resolution, marking three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.