In a strange spectacle showing the ruptures and realignments in the global order under President Donald Trump, the US broke ranks with its Western allies to side with Russia as India abstained on a series of resolutions on Ukraine and amendments at the UN General Assembly.  

Challenging Trump on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion on Tuesday, the Western nations managed to pass two resolutions naming Moscow as the aggressor in Ukraine.  But the US, in a bizarre twist, joined Russia to vote against a resolution put forward by Ukraine and Western nations condemning Russia’s invasion, while China abstained. 

The resolution was adopted with 93 votes for it and 18 against it, with 65 abstentions.  In the environment of confrontation, the votes were significantly lower than the 141 votes a similar resolution received in 2023. India had also abstained on that vote.

On Monday, India made six abstentions — that is not taking any sides - on the resolutions proposed by the US and by Ukraine as well as on one amendment moved by Russia to the Ukraine-sponsored resolution and on the three amendments sponsored by France and others to the US resolutions.

A Washington-sponsored resolution that did not name Russia as the invader was cleverly amended at the initiative of Western nations to call out Moscow as the aggressor in Ukraine.  A peeved US abstained on the resolution it had proposed after the amendments presented by France’s Permanent Representative Nicolas De Riviere while President Emmanuel Macron was in Washington to meet Trump were adopted. 

The US, which is directly discussing with Russia a peace deal for Ukraine, views the condemnation of Moscow as interfering with its initiative. Trump spoke with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and his representatives met with Moscow’s in Riyadh to explore a way to end thewar that began on February 24, 2022, and has devastated Ukraine and taken a toll on Russia also. 

Justifying not assigning blame, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday called it “a simple, historic resolution” to “chart a path to peace”. Repeating that at the Assembly, acting US Permanent Representative Dorothy Shea said the previous resolutions that condemned Russia resolutions “have failed to stop the war”. 

The US resolution “looks forward, not backward”, she said, “This is a moment of truth -- a historic moment”.  “This has never been about Ukraine” and the resolution will address the global impact of war”, she said. 

The Russia-sponsored amendment to Ukraine’s resolution to insert “root causes” of the conflict failed with the US abstaining, getting only 31 votes, while 71 voted against it and 59 abstained. 

The France-sponsored amendments to the US invoking the UN Charter and condemning Russia’s invasion were adopted, turning it on its head despite Washington’s and Moscow’s negative votes.