Ah, the UN Security Council – where the world’s greatest diplomatic minds gather to achieve the impossible: writing statements about war without mentioning who started it. On Monday, February 24, in a dazzling display of verbal gymnastics, the Council adopted a resolution on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine without actually naming Russia. A stroke of genius. Who needs clarity when you can have strategic vagueness?
The Security Council voted on resolution 2774 (2025)
Gone are the days when aggressors were called aggressors.
Now, wars happen, such as spontaneous combustion or natural disasters. One day, Ukraine was minding its business, and – poof! – a “conflict” erupted. No need to ask how or why.
The resolution, proudly championed by the new Trump administration, calls for a “swift end to the conflict” but stops short of mentioning who should stop what. Because, really, why ruin a perfect diplomatic soirée with inconvenient details? The world’s war criminals must be sighing in relief – it turns out you can roll tanks into a sovereign country, bomb civilians for years, and still not get your name on a UN statement. It’s the international relations equivalent of a “Get Well Soon” card sent to the mugger and the guy bleeding on the sidewalk.
And let’s not forget Russia’s Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, who practically beamed at the resolution, praising the “constructive changes” in the U.S. stance. When the country that launched the war is happy with the wording of a peace resolution, you know diplomacy is working wonders.
Meanwhile, European countries like France and the UK made a grand show of abstaining, mumbling about how “there can be no equivalence” between Russia and Ukraine. But their symbolic discontent changes nothing in the grand scheme of things because abstentions don’t stop missiles.
So, what’s the takeaway from this grand diplomatic charade?
Simple: If you ever invade a country, just make sure you have a seat at the UN Security Council and a few friends who appreciate ambiguity. That way, three years into your war, you’ll get a nicely worded document urging “both sides” to play nice instead of being labeled an aggressor.
It is a masterclass in doing something while accomplishing nothing.