India expressed regret that the situation in Ukraine has worsened and yet again called for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities as it abstained from a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) procedural vote to call for a rare emergency session of the UN General Assembly on the ongoing conflict.
By a recorded vote of 11 in favour to 1 against (Russia), with 3 abstentions (China, India, United Arab Emirates), the Council , at its fourth meeting on the situation in Ukraine in last one week, has called an emergency special session in the next 24 hours at which the world body can decide whether to use armed force, when necessary, to maintain or restore international peace and security.
Welcoming the announcement of talks on the Belarus-Ukraine border, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti yet again emphasised that there is no choice but to return to the path of diplomacy.
"Our Prime Minister has advocated this strongly in his recent conversations with the leadership of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In this regard, we welcome today's announcement by both sides to hold talks at the Belarus border," said Tirumurti.
India reaffirmed its commitment to a global order agreed on the principles of the United Nations Charter and expressed deep concern about the safety and security of a large number of Indian nationals — including students — in Ukraine, pointing out that attempts to evacuate them have been impacted by the complex situation at the border.
UNSC’s consideration of draft resolution referring the situation in #Ukraine to the #UNGA
📺Watch: India’s Explanation of Vote by Permanent Representative @AmbTSTirumurti ⤵️@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/dxHES1bSvb
— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) February 27, 2022
"It is important to maintain an uninterrupted and predictable movement of people. It is an urgent humanitarian necessity that must be immediately addressed," the Ambassador said.
"Taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances, we have decided to abstain," he added.
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and also the Council President for February, urged members to stop aiding and abetting the current social media misinformation war against the Russian Federation, saying: “We hear lies and deceit about the indiscriminate shelling of Ukrainian facilities, hospitals and schools” when “the Russian army does not threaten civilians in Ukraine; it does not shell civilian infrastructure”.
China’s delegate, Zhang Jun, reiterated his delegation’s unchanged position about the situation in Ukraine, saying Beijing supports talks with Russia and Europe to form a balanced security mechanism.
Kiev's Permanent Representative, Sergiy Kyslytsya, voiced extreme alarm at Russia’s "nuclear blackmail", saying that the world must take the threat very seriously. He said that Ukraine has filed a case against the Russian Federation at the International Court of Justice and "will bring the Russian Federation to account."
Also Read: Explained: Why India abstained from UN Security Council vote on Ukraine crisis
