Israel votes against Ukraine, joins US & Russia to oppose UN resolution condemning Russian invasion
First time Israel and U.S. voted against Ukraine since the Russian invasion
Israel voted against Monday’s UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, joining allies like the U.S. and Hungary, but also Russia, North Korea, and 13 other countries.
The vote was the first time that Israel and the U.S. voted against Ukraine since the Russian invasion three years ago.
The resolution was adopted with 93 votes for and 18 against, while 65 nations, including China, Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, abstained.
The resolution condemned Russia’s “aggression” and “attacks against civilians,” demanded an immediate ceasefire, and the implementation of previous resolutions calling on Russia to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
Adoption of today's UNGA resolution on an early & just peace in Ukraine confirms the importance of upholding the UN Charter & respecting all countries' territorial integrity & sovereignty.
— 🇪🇺EU at UN-NY (@EUatUN) February 24, 2025
Peace in Ukraine. In line with the Charter.
✅ 93 votes in favor
❌ 18 votes against pic.twitter.com/JYp7d5K0Sv
According to Maariv, the Israeli vote came about amid “massive American pressure right up to the vote.”
“Israel believes it is important to support the American effort aimed at bringing about progress in efforts to end the war and resolve the conflict peacefully,” the Foreign Ministry explained to The Times of Israel.
The Trump administration has been critical of the Ukrainian government in recent days, with President Donald Trump calling President Volodomyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.”
According to Axios, the U.S. attempted to pressure Ukraine into not presenting its resolution and later proposed an alternative. Ultimately, the U.S. found more success when the Security Council adopted a different resolution calling for a "swift end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine."
The highly unusual Israeli vote highlights the complex relations between the nations. Public opinion in Israel overwhelmingly sides with Ukraine, and Israeli governments have consistently expressed their support for it.
However, Ukraine has criticized Israel for being cautious about arms exports, especially regarding offensive weapons. Israel has moreover sought not to lose its previously good relations with the Russian government, particularly given its large military presence in neighboring Syria.
The decision to oppose Ukraine was met with criticism in Israel. A Knesset member of The Democrats Party, Gilad Kariv, called the vote “a moral and ethical disgrace.”
“On the day the world marks three years since the Russian assault on Ukraine, the State of Israel chooses to vote against the attacked side. This is an ethical and moral bankruptcy and the adoption of a position that could ultimately harm the State of Israel. The free world must stand by Ukraine and not reward an unworthy aggressor, undermining basic values of sovereignty and democracy,” Kariv stated.
— Lahav Harkov 🎗️ (@LahavHarkov) February 25, 2025
Until Monday, Israel had sided with Ukraine in UN votes since the Russian invasion. However, since 2015, Ukraine voted against Israel 122 times, and abstained from votes against Israel another 41 times, according to UN Watch.
Despite not providing offensive weapons, Israel transferred “Red Alert” warning systems, indirectly sent old Patriot anti-missile batteries, and shared intelligence on Iran’s support for Russia, mainly concerning Iranian drones.
Israel also supplied equipment like helmets, vests, and chemical warfare masks.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
