UN SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION URGING SWIFT END TO RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT

The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution calling for a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and urging lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, as the world marked the third anniversary of the full escalation of the crisis.

The resolution calls for a quick end to the conflict and mourns the loss of life in the war, without placing blame on Russia.

The Security Council adopted the resolution with 10 votes in favor, including China, the U.S. and Russia, while France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained. Russia voted in favor after failing to amend the resolution and vetoing European bids to add language supporting Ukraine.

“This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one – one of which we should all be proud,” acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea told the council. “Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community.”

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia acknowledged “constructive changes” in the U.S. position on the conflict. He said the resolution was “not an ideal one,” but “a starting point for future efforts towards a peaceful settlement.”

French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said that while France was “fully committed to peace in Ukraine, we call for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, and certainly not for the capitulation of the victim.”

Earlier in the day, France, Britain and Greece asked the council to postpone a vote on the U.S. draft resolution on Ukraine until the afternoon of February 25. The United States strongly opposed delaying the vote.

Before voting on the U.S.-drafted resolution, the Security Council voted on the motion proposed by European countries. Six countries, including China, supported it, three, including the United States, opposed it, and six, including Russia, abstained. Since the motion did not receive the minimum nine votes needed, it failed, and the vote continued.

As for the U.S.-drafted resolution, Russia and other European countries proposed multiple amendments.

European countries put forward three amendments, including inserting “reaffirming the commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters” in the preamble and replacing “Achieving a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation” with “Achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States.”

None of the three amendments passed.

Russia also proposed two amendments, including one addressing the root causes of the conflict. However, both failed to gain enough votes.

On the same day, the UN General Assembly rejected the U.S. draft and passed a resolution submitted by Ukraine and European allies, which backs Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and calls for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in line with the UN Charter. Resolutions in the UN Security Council are binding under international law.