India abstained on Ukraine resolution amid US, Russia pressure Moscow vetoed

By Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

United Nations, 27th Feb. India came under pressure both from the United States and Russia on the draft resolution in the Security Council which was voted on Friday to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A UNSC draft resolution was tabled by the US and Albania to vote on Friday that would condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demand the withdrawal of all Russian troops.

The resolution failed to pass in the Council because of the veto power used by permanent members of the Council – Russia. 3 members abstained including India, China and UAE and got 11 votes in favor.
US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has accused Russia of threatening the international system with its invasion of Ukraine

She told the Council members “Russia’s latest attack on our most fundamental principles is so bold, so brazen that it threatens our international system as we know it. We have a solemn obligation to not look away.”

She echoed Biden’s comments from earlier this week, Thomas-Greenfield said Russia is engaged in a “war of choice” in Ukraine.

“Russia chose to inflict untold suffering on the Ukrainian people and on its own citizens,” she said. “Russia chose to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty, to violate international law, to violate the UN Charter.”

In her brief remarks after the vote, the US envoy said that while Russia can veto a resolution, “you cannot veto our voices.”

She confirmed they will bring the resolution to the U.N. General Assembly, where all countries have a vote and there is no veto power but where resolutions are nonbinding.

US official quoted in media saying the Biden administration knows the measure will be vetoed by Russia but believes it is important to put the resolution to a vote to underscore Russia’s international isolation.

The final draft resolution reaffirmed the council’s commitment “to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and stressed the importance of a “strong collective response” against Russia’s military operation.

Russia also said it expects India’s support in the Council while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also spoke to Jaishankar before the voting took place.

The draft resolution tabled by the US and Albania seeking to condemn “in the strongest terms possible” Russia’s aggression, invasion and violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and all eyes were on India to see how it votes.

The resolution seeks to isolate permanent and veto-wielding member Russia on the global stage after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine on Thursday.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in New Delhi on Thursday night that India has seen the draft resolution, but it will undergo “considerable changes”.

“We will wait to see the shape that this resolution takes before we can pronounce” India’s position on the issue, Shringla said.

He added “It is an evolving situation both on the ground and in the United Nations.”

Jaishankar on Thursday night held separate phone conversations with Blinken and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov insisted that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward to defuse the Ukraine crisis.

Blinken spoke with Jaishankar to discuss Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a read out of the call in Washington.

“Blinken stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia’s invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire,” Price said.

The call between the two leaders happened after a White House news conference by President Biden during which he said his administration is going to have consultations with India on the Ukrainian crisis.

Jaishankar said, in a tweet “Appreciate the call from @SecBlinke and discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine and its implications.”

India has a historic and time-tested friendship with Russia. At the same time, its strategic partnership with the US has grown at an unprecedented pace over the last decade and a half.

Foreign Minister Jaishankar in his call with Russian foreign minister Lavrov conveyed that “dialogue and diplomacy” are the best way forward to defuse the crisis.

Russia’s Charge d’affaires Roman Babushkin said India has a deep understanding of the reasons that led to the current situation in Ukraine and Moscow is looking for continued support from New Delhi in sync with the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries.

“We highly appreciate India’s deep understanding of the current situation as well as the reasons that led to it. We expect India to support Russia at the UN Security Council,” Babushkin told PTI in New Delhi

He praised India’s position, Babushkin also referred to Jaishankar’s comments three days back in Paris that the situation in Ukraine has its roots in the post-Soviet politics and the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

“India’s position has been very balanced and independent. We appreciate it and we continue to expect India’s support in sync with the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries,” Babushkin said.

India Foreign Minister Jaishankar in his talks with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said that he emphasized that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the “way out”.

“Received call from Ukrainian FM @DmytroKuleba. He shared his assessment of the current situation. I emphasized that India supports diplomacy & dialogue as the way out,” Jaishankar tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday and called for “concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue”.