The United States is calling on the United Nations General Assembly to support its resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday. In a diplomatic note reviewed by Reuters, the US urged member states to oppose any amendments and vote against a competing resolution drafted by Ukraine and its European allies.
The US described its proposal as “a forward-looking resolution focused on one simple idea: ending the war,” emphasizing that it aims to build momentum toward international peace and security, the core mission of the UN. The note specifically asked countries to “vote no on any other resolution or amendments presented” during Monday’s session.
Introduced on Friday, the US resolution sets up a direct clash with Ukraine and the European Union, which have been negotiating for weeks on their own resolution. The EU-backed draft calls for Russia to withdraw its troops and end hostilities, reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity—language absent from the US proposal.
Instead, the US text focuses on mourning the loss of life in the “Russia-Ukraine conflict,” reiterating the UN’s role in maintaining peace and security, and calls for “a swift end to the conflict” and “a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.”
Security Council Vote and Proposed Amendments
Diplomats noted that the 15-member UN Security Council is also scheduled to vote on the US draft later on Monday. For the resolution to pass, it requires at least nine votes without any vetoes from the five permanent members— the US, Russia, China, Britain, or France.
The US’s push comes amid President Donald Trump’s new initiative to mediate an end to the war, leading to tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and concerns among European allies about being sidelined in potential peace talks. US and Russian officials held discussions last Tuesday.
During the General Assembly meeting, several proposed amendments to the US draft will be considered. Russia has suggested changes that would focus on addressing the “root causes” of the conflict. Moscow has consistently referred to its 2022 invasion as a “special military operation” aimed at “denazifying” Ukraine and halting NATO’s expansion.
Meanwhile, Britain and 24 European Union member states have proposed their own amendments to the US draft. These changes seek to label the conflict as “the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation,” reaffirm Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and call for a “just, lasting and comprehensive peace” in accordance with the UN Charter and principles of sovereign equality.
Though General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they carry significant political weight by reflecting the global consensus on major issues like the war in Ukraine. Unlike the Security Council, no country has veto power in the General Assembly.
