UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the Ukraine war as “a stain on our collective conscience” on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, reiterating calls for an immediate ceasefire. Speaking to the UN Security Council, he commended US and other efforts to end the war but stressed the need for concrete de-escalation measures and diplomatic space. Guterres noted that over 15,000 civilians, including 3,200 children, have been killed since the conflict began.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting Ukraine by a wide margin on Tuesday, with 107 votes in favour, 12 against, and 51 abstentions. The non-binding but politically significant resolution backs Ukraine’s international borders and expresses concern over Russian attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure. Russia, Belarus, and Sudan opposed, while China and the US abstained.
US Deputy UN Envoy Tammy Bruce explained the abstention, stating that while Washington welcomes the call for a ceasefire, the resolution includes language that could distract from negotiations rather than support diplomatic avenues for durable peace. Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, said she plans to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address but does not expect significant changes in US policy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Russia has not “broken Ukrainians” nor triumphed in the war. Over 30 leaders from the “coalition of the willing” supporting Ukraine urged Russia to agree to an “unconditional ceasefire” and engage meaningfully in peace talks, noting that Russia suffered nearly half a million casualties last year. The virtual meeting included UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
US senators introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting Ukraine, led by Democrats and Republicans, encouraging Nato cooperation and calling for any negotiated settlement to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with Ukraine as a central party. Separately, Ukraine’s envoy to Washington confirmed US displeasure over Ukrainian attacks on the Russian port of Novorossiysk that affected US oil interests in Kazakhstan.
