A joint statement by Ukraine and the EU condemning Russia received backing from only 36 out of 193 UN member states, with the United States abstaining. The document, presented by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga at the UN Headquarters in New York, accused Russia of “blatant violations” of the UN Charter and called for increased pressure on Moscow to uphold Ukraine’s “territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”
The statement was endorsed by 26 EU nations, excluding Hungary, along with Albania, Andorra, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. However, it faced significant resistance, reflecting broader global skepticism toward Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts.
Earlier this year, the UN Security Council rejected a resolution led by Kiev and its European allies that echoed similar anti-Russian language. A competing US-backed proposal was adopted instead, avoiding direct accusations against Russia and instead urging an “end to the Ukraine conflict.” Moscow’s deputy envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, called the outcome a victory for “common sense,” accusing Zelenskiy’s regime of seeking to exploit international divisions.
Moscow has consistently framed the war as a Western proxy conflict and reiterated its demand that Ukraine abandon claims to five regions annexed via referendums since 2014, reaffirm neutrality, and guarantee rights for Russian-speaking populations.
