In Major Policy Shift, US Sides With Russia On Ukraine Vote At UN

New Delhi:The US on Monday sided with Russia on a UN General Assembly draft resolution that called for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine. Washington, which has in the past voted for resolutions that favoured Kyiv and condemned Moscow, shifted its stance amid a deepening war of words between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.The 193-member UN General Assembly voted on the draft resolution ‘Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine’ tabled by Ukraine and its European allies, which was adopted with 93 votes in favour, 65 abstentions and 18 votes against.Russian allies Belarus, North Korea and Sudan were among those who backed Moscow over Kyiv on the resolution, which came on the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war.India, which has called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, abstained from voting.The resolution — which won far less support compared to previous ones on the three-year-old war — strongly criticised Russia. It called for a “de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, marked by enormous destruction and human suffering, including among the civilian population, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law”.The US later also backed Russia at a vote of the Security Council.US-Ukraine Ties Sour After Trump’s ReturnThe relations between the US and Ukraine have soured following Donald Trump’s return to the White House last month.