February 25, 2025: In a dramatic departure from past US policy, President Donald Trump has taken a softer stance on Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, marking a significant shift in Washington’s approach to the conflict. At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday, both the US and Russia opposed a European-backed resolution that directly blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching the full-scale invasion three years ago. The move underscores Trump's willingness to push for an end to the war on terms that could benefit Moscow, further deepening divisions between the US and its European allies.
The resolution, which emphasized Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemned Russian aggression, received considerably less support than previous UNGA measures on the war. Meanwhile, a separate resolution calling for de-escalation, an early ceasefire, and a peaceful resolution saw India and China abstaining from the vote. They were joined by 63 other nations, including Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and Vietnam, reflecting a growing divergence in global positions on the conflict.
In an unexpected turn, the US and Russia later united in backing a Security Council resolution that called for an immediate end to the war, though it notably refrained from assigning blame to Moscow. This rare alignment between Washington and Moscow highlights Trump's departure from Joe Biden’s policy, which sought to isolate Russia diplomatically and economically.
As the geopolitical landscape around the war shifts, the G-7 struggled to release a unified statement condemning Russia, with the US opposing language that echoed past denunciations of Moscow. Meanwhile, Trump signaled that he is moving forward with negotiations to end the war, revealing on social media that he is in "serious discussions" with Putin. He further stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could visit Washington as soon as this week to finalize an agreement over natural resources—a deal Trump has framed as necessary to bring the war to an end and ensure Ukraine repays the US for its military aid.
French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Washington in an effort to reinforce Europe’s role in the peace talks and advocate for increased defense spending. Speaking alongside Trump at a joint press conference, Macron described the moment as a “turning point” and suggested that Europe would be willing to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine once a lasting peace agreement is reached. However, Trump did not acknowledge any European role in the negotiations with Russia, nor did he address security guarantees for Ukraine, a key concern for Kyiv in any long-term resolution.
With Trump forging a new path in US foreign policy, the diplomatic landscape surrounding the Ukraine war is undergoing a major shift. As Washington moves away from its previous hardline stance against Moscow, the future of the conflict—and the global response to it—remains uncertain.