The United States has joined Russia in voting against a UN resolution that blamed Russia for the war in Ukraine and demanded the immediate withdrawal of its troops.
In another stunning turnaround on its stance on the invasion, the US voted with 17 countries — including North Korea and Russian ally Belarus — against the Ukrainian resolution.
Despite America's opposition, the motion was adopted by the 193-member General Assembly with the support of 93 countries, including Australia and most of Europe.
[video tweet: james larsen]The 15-member Security Council later adopted a US-drafted resolution, supported by Russia, which took a neutral position on the conflict and called for peace.
The votes came as US President Donald Trump said he had been talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin about "major economic development transactions" between the two nations.
"I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the war, and also major economic development transactions, which will take place between the United States and Russia," Mr Trump wrote on social media.
"Talks are proceeding very well!"
Mr Trump has also held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, where they discussed sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of a possible deal to end the war.
As Ukraine marks the third anniversary of Russia's invasion, there is growing alarm in Europe over Mr Trump's hardening stance toward Ukraine.
Mr Trump last week falsely suggested Ukraine started the war and accused Mr Zelenksyy of being a "dictator".
The US's UN votes stand in contrast to the position taken by former president Joe Biden's administration, which led efforts at the international body to support Ukraine.
[tweet: UN vote]The Security Council had been deadlocked throughout the war because Russia holds veto powers, but the General Assembly has repeatedly supported Ukraine's sovereignty.
America's Security Council resolution mourns the loss of life in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict", reiterates the UN's purpose is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes, and urges a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace.
It was adopted with 10 votes in favour, while France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained. Russia voted in favour after failing to amend it and vetoing European bids to add language supporting Ukraine.
"This resolution puts us on the path to peace," acting US ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the council. Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia heralded "constructive changes" in the US position on the conflict.
Peace can't mean surrender of Ukraine: Macron
Earlier, at a joint press conference at the White House, Mr Macron said France was prepared to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
"This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine, or a ceasefire without guarantees," he said.
"It must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders regarding the issues that affect it."
Mr Trump said Europe must take on the central role of assuring long-term security in Ukraine.
"The cost and burden of securing the peace must be borne by the nations of Europe, not alone by the United States," he said.
Speaking earlier from the Oval Office, Mr Trump said Mr Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal.
"Yeah, he will accept it," Mr Trump told reporters.
"I have asked him that question … he has no problem with it."
That is despite Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week describing any plans to deploy European peacekeeping troops as "unacceptable".
Mr Macron described talks with the US president as being "extremely productive" and representing a "turning point" in their discussions on eastern Europe's future.
"I think our common objective, clearly, is to build peace and a solid and long-standing peace," Mr Macron said.
"We want peace, he wants peace."
US-Ukraine rare minerals deal 'very close'
Mr Trump said he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington "in the next week or two" to sign an agreement that would give the US access to Ukraine's rare minerals.
The minerals deal is at the heart of Ukraine's bid to win US support, but officials have wrangled over its wording in the shadow of a war of words between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy.
"I think [we're] getting very close to getting an agreement where we get our money back over a period of time," Mr Trump said.
The Kremlin is also in talks with the US over a separate minerals deal that would see Russia offer the US the opportunity for joint exploration of the country's rare earth metals deposits, as well as the supply of aluminium to the US domestic market.
Within two hours of Mr Trump's social media post about future deals with Russia, Mr Putin chaired a meeting with his ministers and economic advisers on rare earth metals.
"We, by the way, would be ready to offer our American partners, and when I say 'partners,' I mean not only administrative and governmental structures but also companies, if they showed interest in joint work," Mr Putin said on Russian state TV after the meeting.
The US president said he planned to meet with Russia's Vladimir Putin "at some point".
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer is also due in Washington this week where the war in Ukraine will also be at the top of the agenda.
Ukraine marks three years of all-out war
Earlier, the two presidents joined other leaders of the G7 in a morning video call where they heard from the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Mr Zelenskyy, who was joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv, personally asked Mr Trump for continued American support during the video call.
"I want to be very honest with you, for our people, for life in general, it's so important that American support, American assistance remains," he told Mr Trump.
Marking the three-year anniversary since Russian forces began their full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian leader thanked the people of Ukraine for their "absolute heroism" in an earlier video post.
"Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine!"
At a security conference with European leaders in Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said sanctions against Russia would remain until a lasting peace could be found.
She also indicated Ukraine could join the European Union before 2030.
Mr Zelenskyy also said he hoped the conflict raging in Ukraine's east would be over by the end of the year.
It comes a day after Mr Zelenskyy publicly offered to step down as president in exchange for Ukraine being granted NATO membership.
Chinese president hails 'no limits' partnership with Putin
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr Putin have reaffirmed their "no limits" partnership in a phone call on Monday, as the two countries monitor how Mr Trump intends to end the war in Ukraine.
The two leaders first declared their strategic partnership in the days leading up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The West has accused China of supporting Russia's war effort through trade and purchases of Russian gas and oil.
After the call, Mr Xi said the two countries were "good neighbours that cannot be moved apart".
"China-Russia relations have strong internal driving force and unique strategic value, and are not aimed at, nor are they influenced by, any third party," Mr Xi said, according to the official readout published by Chinese state media.
According to a Kremlin statement, Mr Putin also told the Chinese president "about recent Russian-American contacts".
ABC/Reuters/AP
