US sides with Russia at UN: Ukraine loses support
UN meeting (Photo: GettyImages)
An unexpected shift in the balance of forces has emerged on the international stage: during the consideration of an important initiative regarding the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster, one of the key Western countries appeared on the list of opponents of the Ukrainian document, siding with Moscow’s position, according to the broadcast of the UN General Assembly.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to expand international cooperation and mitigate the consequences of the Chornobyl catastrophe.
The document, initiated by Ukraine, was supported by representatives of 97 countries. However, unexpectedly, the United States joined the list of countries opposing it, aligning with Russia, Belarus, China, North Korea, Nicaragua, and Niger. Another 39 delegations chose to abstain.
What the document contains
The resolution recognizes the long-term consequences of the Chornobyl disaster and the need to assist the affected territories.
The document expresses concern over damage to the new containment on February 14, 2025, following a Russian drone attack, which threatened years of international efforts to protect the facility.
It also establishes the official use of the Ukrainian transliteration Chornobyl in UN materials, including the name of the International Remembrance Day on April 26.
The General Assembly has scheduled a special session on April 24, 2026, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
Why the US voted against
A representative of the US delegation explained that the decision was not related to a change in the position on Ukraine’s nuclear safety, but rather disagreement with references to the 2030 Agenda.
According to her, these provisions promote a program of soft global governance, incompatible with US national sovereignty.
At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that Washington will continue to support international initiatives in nuclear safety and efforts to prevent incidents at Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
Ukraine’s position
Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN stated that Belarus’s attempts to propose an alternative text appear cynical, given its provision of territory for the Russian invasion, including the capture of Chornobyl in the early days of the full-scale war. He also stressed the importance of abandoning the Soviet transliteration Chornobyl as an element of imperialist legacy.
In Russia, amid a dwindling flow of volunteers, the possibility of covertly mobilizing reservists is being discussed to replenish losses in the army, indicating rising tension within the country’s military system and increasing both political and operational risks for the Kremlin in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Additionally, unidentified drones once again violated the airspace near Moscow, causing several of the city’s airports to halt operations.
