UN adopts resolution supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity

2025-02-25 07:39:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

United Nations members have adopted a resolution supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, while Washington has pushed forward a resolution of its own that did not mention Russia's guilt for the war it started three years ago.

The resolution supported by European states received 93 votes in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstentions.

Of the Western Balkan states, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina voted in favor of the Resolution.

The text of the resolution sharply criticizes Russia and highlights Ukraine's territorial integrity and the inviolability of its borders.

Washington drafted a rival resolution, amid intensifying disagreements between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, had called the US resolution a "step in the right direction," as the two countries have recently taken steps to restore relations.

But Washington's ally France introduced amendments to the text of the US resolution, telling the UN General Assembly that Paris, along with European states and Britain, would "not be able to support it in its current form."

These states, which support Ukraine, introduced new wording to the US text, saying that the "full-scale invasion of Ukraine" was carried out by Russia.

Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban is seen as one of the most pro-Russian President Vladimir Putin leaders in Europe, voted against the amendments.

The amendments also confirmed the commitment to Ukraine's "territorial integrity," words that were not in the US text.

The American proposal was changed so much that Washington ultimately abstained from the text.

UN General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but are considered an indicator of world opinion.

The inviolability of Ukraine's territorial integrity was at the epicenter of resolutions previously adopted at the UN, with the US supporting them.

"Efforts to add this language distracts from what we are trying to achieve with this resolution which has a forward-looking perspective," said Washington's UN envoy, Dorothy Shea, before the vote.

After the vote in the General Assembly, Washington is expected to send its resolution to the Security Council later on Monday, as a US State Department official has warned that the US will veto if European states or Russia intend to change the text.

According to mechanisms at the UN, Washington could not veto amendments in the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, a resolution in the Security Council must receive at least nine votes from the 15 members of the Council and not receive any vetoes from the five permanent members.

Even if the European Union states in the Council, which are France, Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, and Britain, were to abstain during the vote, the US resolution would pass./ Rel