The UN General Assembly approved two resolutions regarding the war in Ukraine. What do these resolutions entail?

On February 24, the UN General Assembly adopted both resolutions regarding Russia's war against Ukraine – one collective, with participation from over 50 countries, and the second American. A total of 93 countries supported them, while the USA and Russia opposed the Ukrainian resolution.

Details were reported by Reuters, Financial Times, and “Suspilne”.

The resolution, submitted by Ukraine and 50 other states, labels Russia as an aggressor nation and calls for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

Co-authors of the document include all EU countries, most other European states, as well as Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Liberia, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and others.

Presenting Ukraine's resolution, Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betza emphasized that the UN must affirm that “aggression should be condemned and discredited, not rewarded.” She noted that Ukraine's position must encompass essential elements and ensure that any future peace initiative aligns with the principles of the UN Charter. This forms the basis of the resolution she is submitting on behalf of a broad group of co-authors.

Ninety-three countries around the world supported Ukraine's resolution.

At the same time, the USA urged the General Assembly to support their version of the resolution immediately after considering the document prepared by Ukraine. US representative Dorothy Shea highlighted that the main idea of their resolution is to end the war. She stressed that peace is possible and that the USA opposed the other resolution, urging Ukraine to withdraw its support in favor of a proposal that commits to ending the war and working towards lasting peace. Shea underscored the need for a document by the third anniversary of the war that would affirm the commitments of all UN member states to definitively end the conflict.

She also added that the US resolution calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a durable peace between Ukraine and Russia. The USA urged all UN member states, including Ukraine and Russia, to join this process.

Russian representative Vasily Nebenzya indicated that Russia considers the US draft “a step in the right direction,” but at the same time hopes to introduce an amendment addressing “the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.”

In the US draft, Russia was not recognized as an aggressor state. Furthermore, this resolution defined Russia's war against Ukraine as a “Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” calling for its prompt cessation and the establishment of lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Ultimately, the US document underwent certain changes at the suggestion of European countries, notably altering the phrasing from “conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine” to “full-scale invasion” by Russia.

Ninety-three countries also voted in favor of the American version of the resolution with three amendments, while eight opposed it, and 73 abstained. Russia's amendment to the American draft did not receive support.

Despite the fact that only 93 countries voted for both resolutions, which is less than the two-thirds majority needed, these documents are considered adopted. This was made possible because abstaining countries are not counted in the vote tally, with only those who voted for or against being considered.

It is worth noting that on the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, the public organization BRAND UKRAINE launched the international campaign Voices of Just Peace to amplify the voices of Ukrainians advocating for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.