Ahead of UN showdown on Ukraine, U.S. urges countries to vote no on rival European bid for action

Open this photo in gallery: US Political Minister Counselor John Kelley speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York City on Feb. 17.CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images The United States is urging the United Nations General Assembly to back its resolution to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday, oppose any amendments and vote no on a rival text drafted by Ukraine and European allies. In a diplomatic note sent on Sunday and reviewed by Reuters, the United States described its brief resolution as "a forward-looking resolution focused on…