UN votes on Ukraine: shifting alliances and the Global South’s role

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes UN voting patterns on Ukraine as of February 2025. It highlights a divergence between European demands for Russian accountability and the Trump administration's shift toward de-escalation, alongside a more strategic, pragmatic approach by Global South nations seeking diplomatic mediation over binary confrontation.

• On February 24, 2025, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2774 with 10 votes in favor and five European abstentions (France, the UK, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia). This resolution urged an end to hostilities without directly condemning Russia, reflecting a shift in US policy under the Trump administration toward prioritizing negotiations and de-escalation over punitive measures.
• Two General Assembly resolutions were passed: L10, led by Ukraine and European allies, which condemned Russia's invasion and demanded withdrawal; and L11, originally drafted by the US to be more detached but amended by Europeans to include references to Russia's "full-scale invasion." The US ultimately abstained from L11 to avoid alienating Russia or complicating talks.
• International support for Ukraine resolutions has splintered since the 2022-2024 period. While previous resolutions often secured over 140 votes in favor, the European-backed L10 resolution in 2025 received 98 votes in favor, 18 against, and 65 abstentions. The US-drafted L11 resolution received 93 votes in favor, eight against, and 73 abstentions.
• Global South nations, including South Africa, India, and Brazil, are adopting a pragmatic approach that balances support for sovereignty with a preference for diplomatic mediation. South Africa voted for the amended US resolution but abstained from harsher condemnations to avoid limiting future diplomatic solutions.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2025). UN votes on Ukraine: shifting alliances and the Global South’s role. https://saiia.org.za/research/un-votes-on-ukraine-shifting-alliances-and-the-global-souths-role/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. UN votes on Ukraine: shifting alliances and the Global South’s role. 2025. https://saiia.org.za/research/un-votes-on-ukraine-shifting-alliances-and-the-global-souths-role/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=UN votes on Ukraine: shifting alliances and the Global South’s role |date=26 February 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/un-votes-on-ukraine-shifting-alliances-and-the-global-souths-role/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2025votes, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{UN votes on Ukraine: shifting alliances and the Global South’s role}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/un-votes-on-ukraine-shifting-alliances-and-the-global-souths-role/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }