The Diplomacy of Hope in Multilateral Settings: Lessons from UN Debates on the War in Ukraine

In the halls of the United Nations, multilateral diplomacy often appears paradoxical. On the one hand, observers frequently decry its inertia: resolutions stall, negotiations drag on and grand declarations are made with little follow-through. Yet, despite this perceived stasis, states continue to show up. They deliver speeches, sponsor initiatives and participate in endless rounds of dialogue. This enduring engagement points to a deeper emotional undercurrent: hope. While traditionally examined in the context of intractable conflicts, hope also animates the procedural and rhetorical practices of multilateral diplomacy. Focusing on the debates in the UN General Assembly following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, this article explores how hope functions as a strategic narrative in multilateral diplomacy. Drawing on Snyder’s psychological model of hope, comprising goals, pathways and agency, it analyses how states deploy hopeful rhetoric to persuade others, justify their positions, project leadership and sustain belief in the possibilities of global co-operation, even amid crises.