India abstains on UNGA resolution on Ukraine, hopes second round talks will lead to positive outcome

United Nations/New Delhi, Mar 3 (FN Agency) India on Wednesday abstained from voting on a UN General Assembly resolution criticising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after it had similarly abstained twice earlier at the UN Security Council on the Ukraine issue. The 11th Emergency Special Session on Ukraine at the UNGA saw the resolution being approved by 141 votes in favour, with 35 abstentions and five votes against. The resolution “deplored in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of Article 2 (4) of the Charter”. The resolution required a 2/3 majority to be adopted in the General Assembly. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, giving India’s Explanation of Vote, expressed sincere hope that the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine would lead to a positive outcome. He mentioned the killing of Indian student Naveen Gyanagoudar in Kharkhiv yesterday, and expressed deepest condolences to his family and to that of each and every innocent civilian who has lost his or her life in this conflict. Tirumurti said that evacuation of Indian students still stranded in Ukraine is India’s top priority.

He reiterated India’s stand that differences can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, which he said PM Modi has “unequivocally conveyed” in his discussions with world leaders including with the Russian and and Ukraine leadership. On February 25, India, along with the UAE and China, had abstained on the draft resolution in the UN Security Council condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday too India abstained on a procedural resolution in the UN Security Council calling for an emergency special session of the General Assembly to discuss the Ukraine issue India’s Explanation of Vote by Tirumurti reads: “India has been deeply concerned over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the ensuing humanitarian crisis. An Indian national was tragically killed in Kharkiv yesterday due to the ongoing hostilities. We express our deepest condolences to his family and to that of each and every innocent civilian who has lost his or her life in this conflict. We demand safe and uninterrupted passage for all Indian nationals, including our students who are still stranded in Ukraine, particularly form Kharkiv and other cites in the conflict zones. Many member states share this concern.

We have reiterated this demand with both the Russian Federation and Ukraine. This remains our foremost priority. Ensuring the well being and safety of our citizens is the basic duty of every government. We have therefore instituted special flights to bring back Indians home from conflict zones. My government has deployed senior ministers as special envoys to countries neighbouring Ukraine to facilitate evacuation. We thank all the neighbouring countries of Ukraine for opening their borders and extending all facilities to our embassies at this time. India has already despatched humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, this includes medicines, medical equipment, and other relief material. We are sending more such tranches in the coming days India supports the international communtiy’s call for an immediate ceasefire. We also support safe humanitarian access to conflict zones. We remain firm in our conviction that differences can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. PM modi has unequivocally conveyed this in his discussion with world leaders including of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. He underscored the urgent imperative for humanitarian access and movement of stranded civilians. We therefore sincerely hope that the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will lead to a positive outcome India urges that all member states demonstrate their commitment to the principles of the UN charter, to international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states Keeping in view the totality of the evolving situation, India decided to abstain.”