In a significant departure from longstanding U.S. foreign policy, the Trump administration recently aligned with Russia in United Nations votes concerning the conflict in Ukraine. On February 24, 2025, the U.S. joined Russia in voting against a UN General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This resolution, backed by 93 countries, called for Russia’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Ukrainian territory. The U.S. was one of only 18 countries to oppose the resolution, siding with nations like Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and Sudan. axios.com
Later that day, the U.S. and Russia cast identical votes in favor of a UN Security Council resolution that urged a swift end to the conflict but notably refrained from labeling Russia as the aggressor or acknowledging Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This resolution passed with support from countries including Russia, China, Pakistan, Panama, and South Korea, while five European nations— the UK, France, Slovenia, Greece, and Denmark—abstained. axios.com
This shift has caused concern among U.S. allies and within the Ukrainian community. In the Bay Area, Ukrainian-Americans held an “emergency rally” expressing disapproval of Trump’s rapprochement with Russia, viewing it as detrimental to Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.sfchronicle.com
European leaders are also working to keep Trump engaged in efforts to resolve the conflict, emphasizing Europe’s role in achieving peace while maintaining transatlantic unity.ft.com
For a visual representation of the voting patterns, a map from Axios illustrates how UN countries voted on the resolution to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.axios.com
