By Laurence Norman and Michael R. Gordon
The diplomatic rift between the Trump administration and Ukraine over Russia’s invasion escalated Saturday after the U.S. pushed to kill a United Nations resolution that Ukraine had crafted with European support marking the war’s third anniversary. Instead, the U.S. submitted its own draft resolution.
The clash pits the U.S. and Russia on one side against Ukraine and Europe on the other, in the most dramatic display of trans-Atlantic tensions in years.
In a note to capitals, seen by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. diplomats told European counterparts over the past day that Washington would oppose the Ukrainian resolution if it advances and pressed the Europeans to persuade Kyiv to withdraw its text.
Two European diplomats said that until the past few days, the U.S. had been working with Europe on the Ukrainian draft, suggesting some minor changes. While Washington wasn’t eager to push for the resolution, it had given no indication it would oppose it.
The diplomats said the U.S. on Friday asked Ukrainian officials to withdraw their resolution. Ukraine refused. Meanwhile, British and French officials asked Washington to amend its draft. The U.S. said it wouldn’t, the diplomats said.
The lengthy Ukrainian resolution clearly blamed Russia for the invasion. The three-paragraph U.S. draft, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, called for “a swift end” to the conflict and mourned “the tragic loss of life throughout the Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement late Friday confirmed the U.S. had put forward its own resolution. Rubio said the U.S. priority is ending the war.
“We urge all U.N. member states to join the United States in this solemn pursuit,” he said.
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