David Lammy refuses to criticise US for not backing UN resolution condemning Russian invasion – as it happened

Foreign secretary David Lammy with Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

6.26pm GMT

Afternoon summary

• David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has declined an invitation to criticise the US for not backing a United Nations resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (See 5.25pm.) The vote highlighted the growing rift between the US and Europe on Ukraine policy. In the Commons a senior Tory was among those MPs criticising President Trump for his pro-Russian stance. (See 4.52pm.) In his own statement Lammy played down divisions between London and Washington on this issue, and Keir Starmer, in an earlier speech to a summit in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of the start of the way, said that Trump had “changed the global conversation” on Ukraine in a postive way and that this had “created an opportunity” for peace. (See 11.43pm.)

• Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for punching a man to the ground. This means a recall petition can go ahead, which is highly likely to lead to a byelection.

• Jonathan Reynolds has apologised for referring to himself as a solicitor in parliament but denied ever “misrepresenting” himself professionally amid calls by the Conservative party for an investigation.

• A Guardian investigation into the House of Lords raises questions over the accountability of parliament’s second chamber, with revelations about how a string of peers are benefiting from commercial interests.

• The net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy, analysis has found, providing high-wage jobs across the country while cutting climate-heating emissions and increasing energy security.

• Nathan Gill, a former leader of Reform UK in Wales, agreed to receive money to make statements “benefiting” the Russian narrative on Ukraine while serving as an MEP, a court has been told.

6.01pm GMT

There were two key votes on Ukraine resolutions at the UN general assembly.

The US voted against a resolution co-sponsored by Ukraine and EU nations. The text of that one is here.

#BREAKING

UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”; calls for deescalation, early cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine

RESULT
In favor: 93
Against: 18
Abstain: 65 pic.twitter.com/VhQ5Y1W2il

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) February 24, 2025

But the US abstained on another resolution, originally tabled by the US but amended to include a reference to the Russian invasion.

#BREAKING

UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution “The path to peace” with amendments

VOTING RESULT
In favor: 93
Against: 8
Abstain: 73 pic.twitter.com/wfY31Jqo7d

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) February 24, 2025

Updated at 6.02pm GMT