On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution spearheaded by Ukraine aimed at enhancing global cooperation concerning the Chernobyl disaster. However, the United States, in an unexpected diplomatic twist, voted against the resolution alongside Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea.
The resolution, endorsed by 97 countries and opposed by eight, emphasized the urgency of repairing the confinement structure damaged by a Russian drone attack last February and maintaining international collaboration on nuclear safety.
The United States' vote raised eyebrows as it joined Russia, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, North Korea, and Belarus in opposing the text. According to The Kyiv Independent, this unusual alignment "sends a mixed message amid Ukraine's efforts to diplomatically isolate the Kremlin."
The Trump administration defended its decision to vote against the resolution, arguing that the document referenced the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a multilateral framework that Washington has criticized for being overly bureaucratic and ideologically biased.
This vote took place just days after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that the confinement structure over Chernobyl's Reactor No. 4—built after the 1986 catastrophe—"has lost its primary safety functions" due to damage from the Russian drone attack in February. The IAEA report urged immediate repairs to the protective shield to prevent radioactive leaks.
Despite the risks, Russia continues to control the exclusion zone, hindering complete access for Ukrainian technicians and international inspectors. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed gratitude to the countries that supported the resolution and accused Russia of trying to use Belarus to push an alternative version of the document that omitted references to its attacks on nuclear facilities.
"Russia acted as an aggressor once again, with Belarus as its accomplice. We thank the 97 countries that did not stand by," Sybiha stated on his X account (formerly Twitter).
This vote coincides with the Trump Administration's efforts to reopen dialogue channels with Moscow and seek a negotiated resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, even if it means making territorial concessions to Russia. This stance has drawn criticism from European allies.
Understanding the UN Vote on Chernobyl
Why did the United States vote against the Chernobyl resolution?
The Trump administration opposed the resolution because it referenced the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which Washington criticizes as excessively bureaucratic and ideologically slanted.
What was the IAEA's warning regarding Chernobyl?
The IAEA warned that the confinement structure over Chernobyl's Reactor No. 4 had lost its primary safety functions due to damage from a Russian drone attack, urging immediate repairs to prevent radioactive leaks.