How US policy shifts under Trump: Voting against Ukraine, refusing to call Putin a dictator

The US shocked its allies and foes alike on Monday when it joined Russia to vote against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine. The development marking the shift of US policy saw it vote against the Ukrainian and European-backed resolution, joining Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Sudan and 13 other countries.

The US voted the same way as Russia again on another US-proposed UN Security Council resolution carefully worded not to call the Kremlin the aggressor or acknowledge Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The resolution passed without the support of five European members of the Security Council. 

Interestingly, the US also lobbied countries to oppose the resolution against Russia brought by Ukraine and European allies and support a US draft resolution instead. 

The EU-backed resolution, adopted with 93 votes in favour, noted "with concern the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has persisted for three years and continues to have devastating and long-lasting consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for other regions and global stability" and “calls for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine." It also demands that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

However, the US-introduced resolution "implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia." It mourns "the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict" and reiterates "the principal purpose of the United Nations, as expressed in the United Nations Charter, is to maintain international peace and security and to peacefully settle disputes." 

US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea justified its stance stating that the European-backed resolution pursue a war of words rather than an end to the war. "The attempt to add this language detracts from what we are trying to achieve with this forward-looking resolution, a firm consensus from the members of this body to unite behind a resolution calling for the end to this conflict."

The US resolution passed with 10 votes in favour, including from Russia, and five abstentions. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya commended the brief calling it not an ideal one but the first step towards construction resolution of ensuing peace. 

Trump also signalled his stance towards Russia after refusing to call Russian President Vladimir Putin a dictator. During his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Monday, Trump was asked whether he would label Putin a dictator after using that term for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I don't use those words lightly," the US president responded. "You're talking about Europe and you're talking about Ukraine, as part of that whole situation. The other side has a lot of support also. Let’s see how it all works out. It might work out."

Last week, Trump minced no words calling Zelenskyy a dictator and said that he must act quickly if Ukraine wants to survive as a country.