The United States and Russia have taken significant steps toward improving their strained relations, with recent actions at the United Nations signaling a potential shift. On the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UN Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution that marked a more neutral stance on the ongoing conflict. This development suggests a warming of ties between the two nations, which have been marked by tension and opposition in recent years.
The resolution, supported by both Russia and China, calls for a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis. It represents a departure from previous US positions and aligns more closely with Russia's perspective. This alignment was further evidenced when the US sided with Russia in opposing a European-backed Ukrainian resolution presented to the broader UN General Assembly. The US resolution is seen as a starting point for further diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Recent high-level talks between the US and Russia have set the stage for potential peace negotiations concerning Ukraine. The discussions are expected to continue with a second round of talks scheduled before the end of this week, potentially taking place in Saudi Arabia. These talks aim to lay the groundwork for more substantive discussions on achieving peace in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that any resolution to the conflict must be acceptable to Moscow, indicating Russia's firm stance on negotiating terms.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov commented on the current state of US-Russian relations, stating:
"The process that has begun to bring our bilateral relations out of a deep crisis is positive and we support it. But we are still at the beginning of the journey," – Dmitry Peskov
He further remarked on the previous US administration's role in straining bilateral relations, suggesting that significant efforts are required to mend these ties.
"The previous Washington administration messed things up badly. There's a lot of work to be done," – Dmitry Peskov
The latest UN resolution is notable for being the first in three years to call firmly for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. This milestone was highlighted by Dorothy Shea, who remarked:
"the first this council has taken in three years on Ukraine to firmly call for an end to the conflict." – Dorothy Shea
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya also acknowledged the significance of this step:
"The text adopted now is not ideal, but it is, in essence, the first attempt to adopt a constructive and future-oriented product of the Council, which speaks of the path to peace, and does not fan the flames of conflict," – Vasily Nebenzya
The Kremlin remains cautiously optimistic about this revived rapprochement with the United States. While acknowledging the progress made, they recognize that considerable work remains ahead. The adoption of the US-drafted resolution by the UN Security Council is seen as a positive indicator of potential future cooperation between the two countries.