Washington’s aim is to avoid assigning blame in order to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
The United States chose not to endorse a joint statement at the World Trade Organization (WTO) that condemned Russia’s “aggression against Ukraine,” according to information from a diplomatic source and a Geneva trade official, as reported by Reuters.
This decision aligns with Washington’s evolving policy towards Moscow, which includes re-establishing diplomatic connections and working towards ending the conflict in Ukraine.
The statement, circulated by the EU’s Permanent Mission to the WTO, reportedly garnered support from representatives of over 40 countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.
This marks the first instance of Washington declining to support the annual statement since the Ukraine conflict intensified in February 2022. Reuters suggests that it could be interpreted as another indication of US President Donald Trump’s shifting approach to relations with Russia.
On Monday, the US also refrained from supporting a UN statement holding Russia accountable for the Ukraine conflict, which coincided with the third anniversary of the conflict’s escalation.
Earlier in the month, Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone as part of his administration’s broader initiative to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The two leaders agreed to commence discussions aimed at resolving the conflict.
Last week, US and Russian officials engaged in high-level discussions in Saudi Arabia, where they explored the possibility of establishing a framework for a potential peace agreement and strengthening bilateral relations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the meeting as “very useful,” highlighting that the US delegation, for the first time, acknowledged and listened to Moscow’s concerns.
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