US sides with Russia in United Nations vote on Ukraine invasion

The United States, along with Russia, voted against a United Nations resolution. This resolution condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. This move indicates a significant shift in the U.S. stance on the conflict in Ukraine, potentially signaling a change in American foreign policy.

Besides the U.S., 17 other countries, including North Korea and Russia's ally Belarus, also voted against the resolution. Despite the U.S. opposition, the resolution, proposed by Ukraine, was still passed by the UN General Assembly, with 93 countries voting in favor, including Australia and most European nations. This highlights a divide in international opinion on the conflict.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump stated that he has been negotiating with Russian President Putin on a "major economic development deal" between the two countries. Trump wrote on social media: "I am having serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia about ending the war AND the major economic development deal that will take place between the U.S. and Russia. Negotiations are going very well!"

Trump also held talks with French President Macron at the White House, discussing the possibility of sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a potential agreement to end the war. As Ukraine commemorated the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, Europe is increasingly concerned about Trump's increasingly hardline stance on Ukraine. Trump last week falsely suggested that Ukraine provoked the war and accused Zelensky of being a "dictator."

The U.S. position in the UN vote contrasts sharply with the stance taken by the previous Biden administration, which actively supported Ukraine in international organizations. The Security Council has been deadlocked throughout the war due to Russia's veto power, but the UN General Assembly has repeatedly supported Ukraine's sovereignty. The resolution put forward by the US in the Security Council mourned the loss of life in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict," reaffirmed the UN's purpose of maintaining international peace and security and resolving disputes peacefully, and urged a swift end to the conflict and the achievement of a lasting peace.

French President Macron stated at a press conference at the White House that France is ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. "This peace must never mean the surrender of Ukraine, or a ceasefire without guarantees," he said, "it must allow Ukraine to have sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders on issues that affect it." Trump stated that Europe must bear the core role in ensuring Ukraine's long-term security. "The cost and burden of securing the peace must be borne by European countries, not just the United States."

Trump also stated that Putin would accept European peacekeeping troops entering Ukraine as part of a potential peace agreement. "Yes, he would accept it," Trump told reporters, "I asked him that question...he has no problem with it." This is despite Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stating last week that any plans to deploy European peacekeeping troops were "unacceptable." Macron described the talks with the U.S. President as "very productive" and representing a "turning point" in their discussions about the future of Eastern Europe.

Trump said he plans to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Washington "in a week or two" to sign an agreement that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare minerals. This mineral deal is central to Ukraine winning U.S. support, but officials have been arguing over its wording, which is linked to the war of words between Trump and Zelensky. "I think [we're] very close to making a deal, and we're going to get our money back in a period of time," Trump said.

The Kremlin is also in negotiations with the U.S. on another mineral deal that would give Russia the opportunity to jointly explore the country's rare earth metal deposits with the U.S. and supply aluminum to the U.S. domestic market. Within two hours of Trump's social media post about future deals with Russia, Putin chaired a meeting with his ministers and economic advisors on rare earth metals. "By the way, if our American partners, and when I say 'partners,' I mean not only administrative and government agencies, but also companies, if they are interested in cooperation, we are ready to offer them opportunities for cooperation," Putin said on Russian state television after the meeting.

British Prime Minister Starmer will also visit Washington this week, and the war in Ukraine will be at the top of the agenda. Previously, the two presidents participated in a morning video call with other G7 leaders, where they listened to a speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky. Zelensky, together with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau in Kyiv, personally requested Trump to continue providing U.S. support during the video call. "I want to be very honest with you, for our people, for ordinary life, American support, American assistance is still very important," he told Trump.

On the third anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian leaders thanked the Ukrainian people for their "absolute heroism" in an earlier video post. "Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine!" At a security conference in Kyiv with European leaders, European Commission President von der Leyen said that sanctions against Russia would continue until a lasting peace is found. She also stated that Ukraine could join the EU by 2030. Zelensky also said that he hopes the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine can end by the end of this year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin reaffirmed their "no limits" partnership in a phone call on Monday, as both countries are watching how Trump intends to end the war in Ukraine. The two leaders first announced their strategic partnership days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Western countries have accused China of supporting Russia's war effort through trade and purchases of Russian gas and oil. After the call, Xi said that the two countries are "good neighbors that cannot be moved away." "China-Russia relations have strong endogenous动力 and unique strategic value, and are not directed against any third party, nor are they affected by any third party," Xi said, according to official reports released by Chinese state media.

According to a statement from the Kremlin, Putin also told the Chinese President "about recent Russian-American contacts." This suggests an effort to keep China informed about the ongoing discussions and maintain a coordinated approach to international relations.