The U.S. aligned with Russia in voting against a Ukrainian-backed U.N. resolution passed Monday by the General Assembly, which demanded the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine on the third anniversary of the invasion.
Washington’s stance represents a significant departure from its previous position and marks a sharp break with European allies. The shift comes as the Trump administration seeks to improve relations with the Kremlin.
The resolution, which is not legally binding but reflects global sentiment, was approved by a vote of 93-18, with 65 abstentions. Support fell short of previous resolutions, where over 140 nations condemned Russia’s actions and called for the reversal of its annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
The European-backed measure was adopted ahead of a vote on a competing U.S. proposal that urges a swift end to the war but does not mention Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday called for a meeting with President Trump as the U.S. continues to push for access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Speaking at a forum in Kyiv about Ukraine’s future, Zelensky warned that if Trump were to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before meeting with him, “There would be disbelief at the United States. … It would be bad for U.S. society.”
Zelensky also pushed back against initial terms of a U.S.-proposed rare earth minerals deal, arguing that it miscalculated past U.S. financial aid and unilaterally converted grants into loans. “I’m not signing something that will have to be repaid by generations and generations of Ukrainians,” he said.
His remarks came as senior Trump administration officials suggested a minerals agreement was imminent. Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday that he expected the deal to be finalized this week. When asked about those comments, Zelensky dismissed the idea that any conclusive deal to end the war was near. “To end the war this week, it won’t happen. It is not possible without guarantees for Ukraine,” he said. “At the very least I do not know how this can be done without meeting with us.”
On the eve of the war’s third anniversary, Zelensky—who has been in office since 2019, with elections postponed indefinitely “due to the war”—reaffirmed that he had no desire to remain in power long-term. In a Truth Social post last week, Trump called Zelensky “A Dictator without Elections.” Addressing his future, Zelensky said, “If you really need me to relieve my post then, I’m ready to do that for Ukraine. I am focusing on Ukraine’s security today, not 20 years. … I’m not going to stay in power for decades.”
This article has been updated with additional information.
