UN General Assembly Marks ‘Grim’ 4^th Anniversary of Russian War vs Ukraine but without US Support

UNITED NATIONS – Marking the fourth anniversary of the bloody Russian war that is still raging in Ukraine, the UN General Assembly today adopted a resolution demanding an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire, as delegates voiced varying degrees of hope and skepticism over ongoing United States-facilitated peace talks.

The Assembly’s 193 members met today – exactly four years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine – in the latest meeting of its Eleventh Emergency Special Session on Ukraine, which was first convened in February 2022.

They adopted the resolution, titled “Support for lasting peace in Ukraine” by a recorded vote of 107 in favor to 12 against, with 51 abstentions.  By its terms, the Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the release of all unlawfully detained persons, and the return of all internees and of civilians forcibly transferred or deported, including children.

While the resolution by the international organization is justified and accurate in its intent, it is mind boggling that the United States decided to abstain from supporting the document. But on the other hand, the action goes hand-in-hand with President Donald Trump’s contrary position regarding Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the US proposed a “motion for division” for the resolution, separating the second paragraph of the background and the second action clause from the rest of the resolution for separate votes.

The motion was strongly objected to by Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, who called it “deeply concerning and cannot be accepted.”

The US deputy envoy to the UN, Tammy Bruce, argued that "Our view is that certain language in the resolution is likely to distract from ongoing negotiations, rather than support discussion of the full range of diplomatic avenues that may pave the way to durable peace."

“This war, initiated by a permanent member of the Security Council in blatant violation of our Charter, continues to inflict untold suffering on the Ukrainian people,” said General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock (Germany), in remarks delivered by Assembly Vice-President Tania Serafim Yvonne Romualdo (Cabo Verde).

Even as peace talks continue, the UN said, 2025 was the deadliest year for civilians since the start of this invasion, she said.  Nearly 4 million people are internally displaced, while homes, healthcare facilities, schools and energy grids have been deliberately targeted and destroyed, leaving people to freeze to death.  “This violence spares no one — not mothers or fathers, not grandparents and certainly not children.”

As the world watched in shock, she said, it would have been easy to remain paralyzed.  But, the General Assembly — too often dismissed as a body with no real power — chose a different path.  With the Security Council deadlocked, the Assembly convened the first meeting of its emergency special session and has since adopted eight resolutions with concrete demands.

“Since the invasion, the General Assembly has remained clear, resolute and unwavering,” she said.  “At a time when the UN is under intense scrutiny and the Security Council remains deadlocked, this Assembly has demonstrated its ability to act as the moral voice of the international community.”

“No country in modern history has endured an attack of such gravity,” said Mariana Betsa, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, who introduced today’s resolution.  Russia seeks to divide the world into spheres of influence and render Ukraine its satellite, she said, but it will not succeed.

Despite many peace efforts, Betsa said, Moscow has demonstrated no genuine willingness to stop its aggression.  Between 8 and 15 February, it launched some 1,300 attack drones, more than 1,200 guided aerial bombs and 50 missiles against Ukraine, most of them ballistic.  Ukraine, on the other hand, has shown clear readiness to pursue peace, including through extremely difficult compromises.

Painting a vivid picture of life in Ukraine without heat or electricity in frigid winter conditions, she declared:  “This is not a military strategy gone wrong, this is a deliberate Russian State policy.”  Moscow continues to weaponize winter, cold and darkness to break her nation’s resilience. Ironically, the New York Post recognized Russian  intention to weaponize the frigid winter cold but noted that Moscow failed. The gambit made Ukrainians more resilient and stubborn in the face of these Russian cruel efforts.

Against that bleak backdrop, she urged Member-States to vote in favor of the draft resolution before them today, emphasizing that it is no mere “political gesture,” but a vote for justice, peace and in support of the Ukrainian people.

Ambassador Tammy Bruce, deputy UN representative of the US, insisted that

“The Russia-Ukraine war must end now. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States continues to devote energy and effort at the highest levels to bring both Russia and Ukraine closer to a negotiated agreement that will finally end the bloodshed and destruction.” Bruce, like the entire Trump team, emphasized the unjust concept parity rather than placing the onus on the perpetrator Russia.

“Ending the war, of course, is the right thing to do, but no one is suggesting it will be easy. It will require sacrifices and compromises. In this regard, the United States calls on everyone to do all in their power to lower the rhetoric and engage in good faith,” Bruce said.

“The United States welcomes, of course, the call for an immediate ceasefire. As we’ve said, this resolution also includes language that is likely to distract from ongoing negotiations, rather than support discussion of the full range of diplomatic avenues that may pave the way to that durable peace. For this reason, the United States called for a vote on the two paragraphs and ultimately chose to abstain on the resolution.

“What is needed now to end the war is political will. We believe we are closer to a deal than at any point since this war began. Let this be the last anniversary of an ongoing war that has continued for far too long and at far too great a cost. Let’s end it now,” she said.

“Today, we mark a tragic anniversary,” said the European Union’s delegate, in its capacity as observer.  Moscow continues to intentionally attack civilians and civilian infrastructure, which are war crimes.  “Politically, the war has deepened divisions between countries and eroded trust in international institutions and norms,” he said, adding that it has also impacted trade, food security and other critical systems around the globe.

“We want this war to stop,” said the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia, echoing those points.  “Russia’s war is an imperial and colonial war,” she added, emphasizing that no one is safe from this ambition - even countries across Africa and the Middle East have been pulled into Moscow’s imperial strategies. 

Denmark’s delegate, also speaking for Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, said: “What the Kremlin thought would be a three-day ‘Special Military Operation’ has now entered day 1,461.”  Peace in Ukraine must be comprehensive and respect international law, she said, calling for robust security guarantees to prevent the Russian Federation from invading Ukraine again.

“No super-Power wins a war against reality,” said the Czech Republic’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. He addressed his remarks directly to his counterpart in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Livor, asking:  “Does this war actually lead to more security for your country?”  Even great nations cannot survive wars that have no end.  “The strength of a global Power does not lie in its ability to start a foreign war,” but in its ability to end one, he stressed.

“Georgia knows firsthand the consequences of occupation,” said that country’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, noting that Moscow continues its illegal military presence in his country’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.  Indeed, he stressed, Georgia knows the price of peace and will fully support the Ukrainian people.

Russia can run from the truth all it wants but it can’t hide from it. The world knows and it will remember.