Trump’s U.N. Stance on Ukraine Sparks Tensions With Allies

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Trump’s U.N. Stance on Ukraine Sparks Tensions With Allies \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ In a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, the United States broke with its European allies at the U.N. General Assembly, refusing to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in key votes marking the third anniversary of the war. The U.S. voted against a Europe-backed resolution demanding Russia’s immediate withdrawal and later abstained from its own proposal after European amendments forced it to acknowledge Moscow’s aggression. Meanwhile, Trump’s direct negotiations with Russia—excluding Ukraine and Europe—have deepened tensions, leading Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accuse Trump of promoting Russian disinformation.

U.S. Splits With Europe at U.N. Over Ukraine War: Quick Looks

U.S. Refuses to Condemn Russia: The United States joined Russia in voting against a European-backed U.N. resolution that called for Moscow’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine.
Trump’s Shift in Policy: The U.S. introduced its own resolution, which avoided blaming Russia but was later amended by European nations to acknowledge Russia’s invasion—leading the U.S. to abstain from its own proposal.
Security Council Vote Highlights Divisions: The U.S. pushed its resolution through the U.N. Security Council, but key European allies abstained, showing growing transatlantic tensions.
Trump’s Direct Talks With Russia: The Biden-backed European approach is sidelined, as Trump’s administration pushes for direct peace negotiations with Moscow, excluding Ukraine and its allies.
Zelenskyy vs. Trump: After Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator” and accused Kyiv of starting the war, Zelenskyy fired back, saying Trump is pushing Russian disinformation.
Europe Frustrated by U.S. Position: French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer are now on opposite sides of the U.S. stance, despite once being in lockstep with Washington.
What’s Next? The U.S.-Russia negotiations will continue, but Europe and Ukraine face mounting pressure to navigate the conflict without guaranteed American backing.

Deep Look

In a stunning shift in transatlantic relations, the United States broke with its European allies at the United Nations, refusing to explicitly condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine during a series of crucial votes. The move underscores President Donald Trump’s evolving approach to the war, as he pursues direct negotiations with Moscow while excluding Ukraine and key European nations from the discussions.

The votes, which took place on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, marked a significant departure from the firm U.S. stance on Ukraine under previous administrations. Trump’s decision to abandon joint Western messaging at the U.N. and push his own resolution that omitted blame on Russia has deepened tensions with both Ukraine and long-standing European allies.

A Break From Europe as U.N. Resolutions Divide the West

The first major rift came in the U.N. General Assembly, where the United States joined Russia in voting against a European-backed resolution that condemned Moscow’s aggression and called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces. This was a sharp reversal from previous U.S. policy, which had consistently supported such measures.

The European-backed resolution passed 93-18, but the drop in support for Ukraine was notable—earlier U.N. votes had seen over 140 nations condemning Russia and demanding its withdrawal. The results indicated growing war fatigue among nations and a shift in geopolitical alliances, with some countries reluctant to fully back Ukraine without firm U.S. leadership on the issue.

In a competing move, the Trump administration introduced its own resolution, which called for an end to the war and a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia—but deliberately omitted any mention of Russian aggression or responsibility for the invasion.

That draft sparked outrage among European nations, who insisted that the resolution be amended to acknowledge that Russia was the aggressor. Led by France, European diplomats successfully pushed for changes, adding language that reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the fact that the conflict was initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Rather than voting in favor of its own amended resolution, the U.S. ultimately abstained, leaving Ukraine and European allies to support the measure on their own. The final vote stood at 93-8, with 73 abstentions. The U.S.’s refusal to back the resolution it originally proposed further highlighted Washington’s shifting priorities on Ukraine.

Trump’s Direct Negotiations With Russia Further Strain Alliances

Beyond the U.N. votes, Trump’s decision to open direct peace talks with Russia has rattled Ukraine and its European supporters. These discussions, which began without Ukraine or European nations at the table, have fueled fears that the U.S. could pressure Kyiv into making territorial concessions to Moscow.

The fallout has widened the gap between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose relationship was already strained. Trump has:

Labeled Zelenskyy a “dictator” for not holding elections during wartime, despite Ukraine’s logistical challenges due to Russian occupation.
Falsely claimed Kyiv started the war, repeating narratives frequently pushed by Moscow.
Warned Zelenskyy that he “better move fast” to negotiate peace, implying Ukraine could be forced into unfavorable terms.

Zelenskyy has pushed back aggressively, accusing Trump of falling into Russian disinformation narratives and insisting that Ukraine will not negotiate under pressure from Washington or Moscow.

European Leaders Increasingly Isolated in the War Effort

The U.S.-European split over Ukraine has deepened frustration among NATO allies, particularly France and Britain, who had previously worked in lockstep with Washington to provide Ukraine with military and diplomatic support.

As Trump hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington, their meeting underscored the widening divisions on Ukraine. Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer—who is scheduled to meet with Trump later this week—now find themselves at odds with Washington on how to handle the war.

A European diplomat, speaking anonymously, described the situation as “one of the most significant fractures in transatlantic relations since the Iraq War” and warned that European leaders may need to rethink their strategy for supporting Ukraine without guaranteed U.S. backing.

Security Council Vote Leaves Russia and the U.S. Unchallenged

While the General Assembly votes demonstrated growing divisions, the most revealing moment came in the U.N. Security Council, where the Trump administration pushed for a legally binding resolution—one that was deliberately stripped of any direct condemnation of Russia.

The vote passed 10-0, but five key European nations—Britain, France, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia—abstained, refusing to support the U.S.’s softer stance.

Russia used its veto power to block any amendments, ensuring that the final resolution remained deliberately vague and did not hold Moscow accountable for the war.

In response to criticism, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea defended the resolution, stating:

“This is a first step, but a crucial one. It puts us on the path to peace.”

However, European officials were less convinced, viewing the U.S. resolution as an effort to normalize Russia’s presence in Ukraine rather than push for its withdrawal.

Ukraine Vows to Continue Fighting With or Without U.S. Support

Following the votes, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa reaffirmed Kyiv’s commitment to defending its sovereignty:

“As we mark three years of this devastation, we call on all nations to stand firm and take the side of the U.N. Charter, the side of humanity, and the side of just and lasting peace—peace through strength.”

While Ukraine has historically leaned on U.S. support, these votes indicate that Kyiv may have to adjust its strategy moving forward, relying more heavily on European and NATO partners as Washington recalibrates its approach.

What’s Next?

With the Trump administration pivoting toward direct diplomacy with Russia, the fallout from the U.N. votes will continue to play out in international relations.

Trump will host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in Europe. Their meeting will likely determine whether Britain will align with Trump’s approach or maintain its hardline stance against Russia.
Ukraine will push for continued European support, but will face increasing logistical and diplomatic challenges without firm U.S. backing.
Trump’s negotiations with Russia will be closely monitored, with concerns that any concessions could further divide NATO allies.

As the war enters its fourth year, the United States’ evolving position at the U.N. has sent shockwaves through the international community, setting the stage for a dramatic shift in how the conflict is approached diplomatically.

With Washington’s policies diverging from traditional allies, the question now is whether Ukraine will be forced to negotiate a deal that it previously refused to consider—one that may not fully restore its sovereignty but instead reflect a new geopolitical reality shaped by Trump’s negotiations with Moscow.