The UN General Assembly, to mark the fourth year of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, adopted a resolution calling for “a just and lasting peace” in Ukraine. But to do so, they had to reject a last-minute proposal from the US to delete two crucial paragraphs from the draft text that included references to Ukraine’s “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity.”
The resolution, co-sponsored by Ukraine and at least 47 other countries, was adopted with 107 votes in favour, 12 against, and 51 abstentions that included the US, the global South, and Gulf states.
Countries that voted against the resolution included Russia, Belarus, Hungary, and the Sahelian military-led countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Richard Gowan, Crisis Group:
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the vote is that a large part of the UN membership still sees Russia’s war in Ukraine as an attack on core UN Charter principles, including sovereignty and non-aggression, and is willing to say so.
Sources:
United Nations: UN marks fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1167022
United 24: UN General Assembly Calls for Ceasefire, Release of Detainees, and Return of Ukrainian Children https://united24media.com/latest-news/un-general-assembly-calls-for-ceasefire-release-of-detainees-and-return-of-ukrainian-children-16240
Damilola Banjo, PassBlue: UN Resolution on Ukraine Approved Despite US Push to Water It Down https://passblue.com/2026/02/24/un-resolution-on-ukraine-approved-despite-us-push-to-water-it-down/
Ukrainska Pravda: US abstains from vote on UN resolution supporting lasting peace in Ukraine https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/02/24/8022609/
News Release: Global Affairs Canada: Statement on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2026/02/statement-on-the-fourth-anniversary-of-russias-full-scale-invasion-of-ukraine.html
News Release: Department of National Defence: Government of Canada reaffirms unwavering support for Ukraine four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2026/02/government-of-canada-reaffirms-unwavering-support-for-ukraine-four-years-into-russias-full-scale-invasion.html
Richard Gowan, Crisis Group: UN Vote Shows Enduring but Uneven International Support for Ukraine https://www.crisisgroup.org/anb/europe-central-asia/ukraine/un-vote-shows-enduring-uneven-international-support-ukraine