Russia-Ukraine crisis: India explains abstaining from UNSC vote

By abstaining from a UN Security Council resolution on the Russian attack on Ukraine, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant parties to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy to defuse the crisis, official sources said on Saturday. Though India abstained from voting on the resolution, it called for respecting “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of states and sought immediate cessation of “violence and hostilities”, in comments that the sources said reflected a “sharper tone” and criticism of the Russian offensive.

At the crucial UN Security Council session on Friday, Russia used its veto power to block the US-sponsored resolution deploring in the “strongest terms” Russian “aggression” against Ukraine. Besides India, China and the United Arab Emirates too abstained from voting.

While abstaining from voting on the resolution, India issued an ‘Explanation of Vote’ (EoV) after the vote in which it called for “return to the path of diplomacy” and sought immediate cessation of “violence and hostilities”.

India also told the UN Security Council that it has been in touch with all parties concerned and urged them to return to the negotiating table.

“The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” India said in the EoV said.

“All member states need to honour these principles in finding a constructive way forward. Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment,” it said.

Noting that it is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine, India urged that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities.

The sources said India’s call for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and seeking an end to the ongoing “violence” is reflective of its criticism of the Russian action and a subtle change in its overall approach.

In India’s three previous statements at the UN Security Council on the Ukraine crisis, there was no reference to the need for respecting the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of states.

The sources said India has maintained its “consistent, steadfast and balanced” position on the matter that dialogue is the only answer to settle differences and disputes.

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TS Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, said dialogue is the only answer to settle differences and disputes and that no solution can ever arrive at cost of human lives.

In the 15 member UN Security Council, the resolution received 11 votes in favour of it, Russia opposed it and India, China and the United Arab Emirates abstained from the voting.

Since Russia voted against the resolution (vetoed the resolution), it was not passed.