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, reported Hindustan Times.
The countries urge Russia to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine, and reverse its recognition of the two breakaway Ukrainian provinces as independent republics. While the draft resolution was vetoed by Russia, a permanent member, it garnered the support of 11 members of the Council.
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”.
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.
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