Russia-Ukraine War: India and China abstain from UNSC vote on Ukraine- Watch Video

India, China and the United Arab Emirates abstained from voting in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution “deploring” the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The resolution also asks 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. 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.

On the other hand, Russia’s veto had made the failure of the 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.

While Russia had publicly said that it expected India to oppose the resolution, US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, in his conversation with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, was understood to have discussed the need for a firm response to Russia, including with a strong UNSC resolution. Speaking to reporters on Friday, state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the US had a “broad strategic partnership with India, shared values”. He acknowledged that India had a relationship with Russia that was distinct from the one the US had with Russia and this was “okay”, and added, “What we have asked every country us to use that leverage in a constructive way.”