The U.S. on Friday proposed a draft United Nations resolution to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the proposal pits Washington against an effort by Kyiv and European allies to have their own text adopted on Monday by the General Assembly,
Reuters reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a bid to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, sparking a rift with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and raising concerns among European allies that Kyiv and Europe could be cut out of peace talks.
The brief three-paragraph U.S. draft resolution, seen by Reuters, mourns the loss of life during the "Russia-Ukraine conflict" and reiterates "that the principal purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security and to peacefully settle disputes."
It also "implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia."
Russia has proposed an amendment, seen by Reuters, to that line so it reads "implores a swift end to the conflict, including by addressing its root causes, and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia."
Russia U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described the U.S. draft as a "good move." A Russian diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said if Russia's amendment was adopted by the General Assembly then Moscow would vote in favor of the U.S. resolution.
Nebenzia said he had been briefed by the U.S. before the draft was circulated to the 193-member General Assembly.
The General Assembly is already set to meet on Monday to vote on the text drafted by Ukraine and the European Union, which calls for de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution in line with the founding U.N. Charter and international law.
