India abstained on United Nations Security Council resolution that condemned Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine.
India, along with China and the United Arab Emirates, abstained from a vote on a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution “deploring” the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and asking Moscow to cease the use of force against Ukraine, withdraw all its forces from Ukraine, and reverse its recognition of the two breakaway Ukrainian provinces as independent republics.
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But unlike in the past two debates on the issue at the UNSC, while abstaining, India expressed its commitment to the “UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states” and asked all states to “honour these principles in finding a constructive way forward”.
While the draft resolution was vetoed by Russia, a permanent member, it garnered the support of 11 members of the Council.
The resolution, circulated by the United States (US) and Albania, followed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine on Thursday, and has been the subject of intense international diplomacy over the last 48 hours.
While Russia’s veto had made the failure of resolution to pass a certainty, the US invested considerable diplomatic capital in ensuring that there was a “strong collective response” to Russia’s action and Russia was isolated in UNSC.
In his statement explaining the vote, Indian permanent representative TS Tirumurti said that India was “deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine”, and urged all efforts be made for the “immediate cessation of violence and hostilities”. India said no solution could be arrived at, at the cost of human lives. It expressed its deep concern for the welfare and security of the Indian community in Ukraine. Tirumurti also pointed out, “The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states”, and asked member states to abide by the principles.
India also said that dialogue was the only way of settling differences and disputes, that it was a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. The reference to the need to cease violence, respect principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the regret about giving up on the diplomatic path is being seen as a message to Russia.