By Askold Lozynskyj
Today on the third anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) the United States of America and the Russian Federation together voted against a joint Ukrainian and European resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine and demanding Russia’s immediate withdrawal. This was perhaps America’s most shameful day in its almost quarter of a millennium existence, certainly in the 80-year history of the UN.
While sanctions against America will not be imposed by anyone, the entire democratic world should consider boycotting American products and increasing the purchase of European and Canadian ones. For me this will be relatively easy since I have always detested American beer.
Is this a turning point or simply an aberration resulting from the last presidential election of essentially an evil fool to lead America. Either way it requires a reaction from the democratic world.
The tally of the votes indicates that America at this point has few allies in the world as it changes its allegiances and friends. Even Iran and China refused to fall on the Russian and American sword.
America’s Permanent Representative to the UN Elise Stefanik has not yet been confirmed by the Senate so the role of Judas was played by the acting head of the U.S. Mission to the UN, Ambassador Dorothy Shea. Ms. Shea is a bureaucrat. There is no spine among bureaucrats. While it would have required a spine and real courage for the new Ambassador to have voted other than instructed by Trump, she would have had to resign her position as she serves at the mercy of the thug. Stefanik as a Congresswoman last year had voted against aid to Ukraine. She has made laughable assertions that Donald Trump is the greatest American president. So upon confirmation there will be much more pro-Russian appeasement on the part of the new Ambassador.
At this point any Trump sycophant, frankly anyone in his Administration or his acolytes in the legislative branch and the Supreme Court, should be considered fair game for severe criticism and manifestations of disaffection in myriad lawful ways.
A UN GA resolution does not change global security dynamics. However, given the vote tally of 93 for and only 18 against with 65 abstentions, it was a profound humiliation for the United States portending additionally that America was no longer the leader of the world.
Besides America, Russia, Hungary, Belarus and Israel, the remaining negative votes belonged to third world countries beholden to Russia. The Hungarian vote should result in repercussions at the European Union which currently holds frozen sanctioned moneys earmarked for Hungary. Enough playing games, that money should be released but not to Hungary rather to Ukraine for its defence. Prime minister Viktor Orban has not been a loyal participant in the EU and his half year recent presidency of the Council was deliberately offensive to EU policy. Forfeiture of moneys may teach the Hungarian people a worthwhile lesson.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer separately are meeting with Trump this week at the White House. Both certainly are prepared with their message for Trump and the American people. They certainly will be circumspect so that all bridges are not burned. Yet, they must stress that American global leadership is in jeopardy. It is not their job to correct the mistakes of the American people nor is it within their power.
This brings me back to the American people. How could we have become what we are today. I was born in America and while I am not complicit in this travesty, I am sympathetic, but not forgiving, unless efforts are made to rectify one of the worst deliberate acts of America in almost two hundred and fifty years. This alliance with Russia and a manifest criminal killer Vladimir Putin ranks up there with the annihilation of the native people, of which Trump’s hero Andrew Jackson was so proud, and the enslavement of black people and continuing that discrimination for 100 years after the theoretical emancipation.
America did have this coming because of its arrogance, considering itself exceptional. Trump cannot be rehabilitated or changed. He has to be removed. That in itself will begin the rehabilitation of America.
February 24, 2025