UN Security Council Approves U.S.-Backed Resolution on Ukraine Without Mentioning Russian Aggression

The United Nations Security Council has passed a U.S.-proposed resolution calling for an end to the war in Ukraine, but without explicitly mentioning Russia’s role. The measure, titled “The Path to Peace,” was approved with 10 votes in favor, while five European nations—France, the United Kingdom, Greece, Slovenia, and Denmark—abstained. Notably, Russia and China supported the resolution, and no country voted against it.

The resolution urges a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia. However, it does not condemn Russia’s invasion, call for the withdrawal of Russian forces, or demand the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This marks the first Security Council resolution on Ukraine to be adopted since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, as previous attempts to condemn Russian aggression were blocked by Moscow’s veto power.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. introduced a similar resolution at the UN General Assembly, where amendments were made to replace the term “conflict” with “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.” That revised document was approved, though the U.S. abstained, and Russia voted against it. Separately, a Ukrainian-backed resolution calling for the restoration of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops also received broad support in the General Assembly.

The UN General Assembly includes all member states and makes recommendations without binding power, whereas the Security Council has fewer members and can pass legally binding resolutions, with permanent members holding veto power.

The Security Council’s approval of the U.S.-led resolution underscores ongoing diplomatic tensions at the UN, where Western nations and their allies continue to push for stronger language against Russian aggression, while Moscow and Beijing seek to shape a more neutral narrative.

Earlier, a resolution presented by Ukraine and the European Union at the United Nations General Assembly, which condemned Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied territories, was passed.