The United States abstained on Wednesday from a statement by World Trade Organization (WTO) members condemning Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, marking the first time it has not supported the annual declaration since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, a diplomatic source and a Geneva trade official told Reuters.
The statement, signed by 44 WTO members including Ukraine, the European Union, the UK, Canada, and Australia, denounced the humanitarian and economic toll of Russia’s actions. “We are gravely concerned about the consequences of this destruction for Ukraine and for global trade, particularly in the supply of key commodities produced by Ukraine, including agricultural and food products, fertilizers, and critical minerals,” it read.
The US mission to the United Nations in Geneva was not immediately available for comment.
Ukraine underwent a Trade Policy Review on Wednesday, a WTO process designed to enhance transparency and understanding of members’ trade policies and practices.
The abstention comes amid a broader shift in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump, who took office in January. On Monday, the United Nations Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution that took a neutral stance on the conflict, further signalling Washington’s changing approach to the war.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Wednesday that Ukraine and the US had reached an initial minerals deal, which could provide security guarantees to Ukraine and support efforts for a lasting peace. The agreement is central to Kyiv’s push to secure stronger backing from Trump as he seeks to expedite an end to the war—an outcome Ukraine’s allies fear could come at the cost of its national interests.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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