TRANSCRIPT
Three years since Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly has condemned the Kremlin and repeated calls for an end to the conflict.
A resolution drafted by Ukraine and European countries passed with 93 votes in favour, 65 abstentions, and 18 no votes.
Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariana Betsa, told the assembly that aggression must be condemned, not rewarded, saying if Ukraine is allowed to fall, no country is safe.
She also thanked the nations that have stood by Ukraine.
"Russia believed Ukraine would surrender. Russia believed Kyiv would fall in three days. Russia believed our government would flee. However, Russia miscalculated gravely. Eleven years, Ukraine stands firmly and resists. The myths of Russia's military invincibility has been shattered. What was once seen as an unstoppable force has been met with resilience, courage, and determination reinforced by the unwavering support of the free world."
In a sign of the way President Donald Trump is radically reshaping the geopolitics of the war, the US voted against the resolution drafted by Europe and Ukraine.
It was joined by a cohort including Russia, Belarus, Israel and North Korea.
The US also drafted a competing resolution that sought to tone down the emphasis on Russia's role as the aggressor, but European countries successfully moved to have it amended so that it included references to the need for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace that respected Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
In the end, the US was forced to abstain from its own vote.
Acting United Nations Ambassador for the US, Dorothy Camille Shea outlined Washington's stance on what it had hoped to achieve.
"A simple historic statement from the General Assembly that looks forward, not backwards. A resolution focused on one simple idea: ending the war. A path to peace is possible."
The rival resolutions come as the US ratchets up efforts to bring the war to a close, with President Trump saying he believes that a peace deal is close.
But rather than focusing on a path to peace, Russia's Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia sought to place the blame on Ukraine.
"Today, the Kyiv regime is on the brink of a crushing military defeat and continues thoughtlessly sacrificing tens of thousands of Ukrainian men and women, most of which have been mobilized by force. For Zelenskiy and his clique, who usurped power and who refused in May last year to conduct elections in violation of Ukraine's constitution. They find it unacceptable to have any talk about peace on the basis of the ultimatum and the provisions from the Zelenskiy formula, which has no relation with what's happening on the battlefield."
The comments echo, in part, talking points taken up by Donald Trump after he began negotiations to try and end the war in Ukraine, without the involvement of Ukraine or Europe.
Since speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump and his team have expressed their opposition to Ukraine joining NATO and argued the country may need to cede territory.
The US president has also called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "dictator" and suggested the U-K and France "haven't done anything" to end the war in Ukraine.
The leaders of both of those countries are visiting Washington this week, beginning with French President Emmanuel Macron, who held a joint press conference alongside Mr Trump today.
Despite the heated-up rhetoric, Mr Macron says negotiations have reached a turning point.
"And the president has shown this over the past few days and he said so a moment ago. We want peace. He wants peace. We want peace swiftly but we don't want an agreement that is weak. The fact that there are Europeans that are ready to engage, to provide for these security guarantees. And now there's a clear American message that the US, as an ally, is ready to provide that solidarity for that approach. That's a turning point, in my view. And that is one of the great areas of progress that we've made during this trip and during this discussion."
Earlier today, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a similar line, saying President Trump has changed changed the global conversation on Ukraine "for the better".
At the same time, Mr Starmer announced new sanctions on Russia.
The move highlights again the divergence between transatlantic powers, as Donald Trump pushes Ukraine to repay the U-S for military aid, in the form of access to critical minerals.
Despite the dramatic change in the US approach, President Zelenskyy has also expressed fresh hope the war will end soon.
"We hope that we can finish this war this year, not in three years. Its very, very difficult, very, difficult for all our nation to go through this war, but with all respect to our soldiers and our people, so I can't speak about three years. If we speak about how to prepare security, because Russia could come back in 10 years if we will not be prepared.”]
The Ukrainian leader has welcomed European leaders' increasing openness to providing security guarantees, and a push towards increased defence spending.
Yesterday, he repeated his call for Ukraine to be allowed to join NATO and the EU.
Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa backed Mr Zelenskyy's demands that Kyiv have a seat at the table for unfolding peace talks.
"Only Ukraine can decide when there are conditions to start effective, credible, sustainable peace negotiations. All of us welcome the huge effort from President Trump to push Putin and Russia to negotiations and I wish that these bilateral talks open the door for a real peace negotiations, but only Ukraine can decide when we have the conditions to do this."
President Trump has said he expects to meet face-to-face with Vladimir Putin soon.
At this stage, it's not clear whether President Zelenskyy will have a seat at that table.
