For the First Time, the US "Divorces" Europe at the UNSC

NEW YORK, MONDAY - The alliance between the United States and Europe ended dramatically. For the first time since the Ukraine war erupted on February 24, 2022, the US rejected a United Nations Security Council resolution blaming Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.

The rejection by the US along with Russia of the UN Security Council resolution was made on Monday night (24/2/2025) New York time, United States, or Tuesday (25/2/2025) Indonesia time. This coincided with the three-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The resolution ordered Russia to withdraw all troops from Ukraine.

Alongside the US and Russia, there are 17 countries that also rejected the resolution. Some of them include Israel, Mali, North Korea, Burkina Faso, Hungary, Haiti, Palau, Belarus, Nicaragua, and Sudan.

Apart from them, there are 65 countries that chose to abstain. These include China, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Vietnam, and Argentina.

Except for Vietnam, all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Timor Leste, Australia, Japan, and South Korea are part of the 93 countries that support the resolution.

Quoting various Chinese national media, Chinese President Xi Jinping called Russian President Vladimir Putin after the resolution was passed by the UN Security Council. "History will not change the fact that China and Russia are good neighbors; we have shared joys and sorrows together," he said.

In addition to the first resolution rejected by the US and Russia, there is also a second resolution. This resolution was formulated by the US. Its contents are brief, namely regarding condolences for the victims of the war in Ukraine. It is not mentioned that the origin of the war was the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"This resolution addresses peace in Ukraine, which is the most important aspect that we have to pay attention to," said acting US Permanent Representative to the UN Dorothy Shea.

The second resolution was finally accepted by the UNSC. However, France, Britain, Greece, Denmark, and Slovenia abstained. Britain and France, as permanent members of the UNSC, would have brought the situation back to zero if they had rejected the resolution. Therefore, they abstained.

"A lasting peace can only be achieved through justice. Aggressors must be held accountable for their actions. Russia and Ukraine cannot be put on the same footing," said Britain's Permanent Representative to the UN Barbara Woodward.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa made similar comments in her speech to the UNSC before they voted.

In essence, the war in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine. "This war tests all of us for our belief and commitment to the principle of an independent and sovereign nation living freely without fear of attack," he said.

As the UN Security Council met in New York, US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Washington DC. Trump said he was glad the war in Ukraine was nearing an end. However, Macron warned that peace would not come by giving up Ukraine.

In a press conference after meeting with Macron, Trump said Putin would not mind sending peacekeeping troops from Europe to Ukraine.

"Yes, we've talked about that. For him (Putin), as long as the war is over, having peacekeeping troops is fine," Trump said.

He reiterated Ukraine's debt repayment to the US. Washington has sent a total of $180 billion to Ukraine during the three years of war. This is outside of weapons. Trump's intention is for Ukraine to grant rare earth metal concessions worth $500 billion.

Meanwhile, Macron remains firm that peace should not come at the expense of Ukraine. He said he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plan to go to Ukraine. Starmer himself will meet with Trump in Washington DC on Thursday (27/2/2025).

"We see this as a first step towards peace," Macron said.

In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to step down if that was the price to pay for peace. Kyiv still included the condition of returning Russian-occupied territories.

As for Ukraine not being allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Zelenskyy said he stepped down so Ukraine could join. His readiness to step down was inseparable from Trump's pressure to obtain rare earth metal concessions.

(AP/Reuters)