At UNGA, 32 abstain including India from vote on resolution over Ukraine

India voted against a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) urging Ukraine to achieve comprehensive, just, and long-term peace. Countries condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a ‘historic vote’ at the UNGA on Thursday. The assembly demanded that Moscow leave Kyiv “immediately,” emphasising the importance of achieving comprehensive, just, and long-term peace in Ukraine.

The resolution received 141 votes in favour, 32 abstentions, including China and India, and seven votes against it in the assembly. Ruchira Kamboj, India’s permanent representative to the United Nations, reiterated India’s position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable options.

“India remains steadfastly committed to multilateralism and upholds the principles of the UN Charter. We will always call for dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable way out. While we take note of the stated objective of today’s Resolution, given its inherent limitations in reaching our desired goal of securing a lasting peace, we are constrained to abstain.”

India’s ambassador also quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement: “We have consistently advocated that no solution can ever arrive at the cost of human lives. In this context, our Prime Minister’s statement that this cannot be an era of war bears reiteration. Escalation of hostilities and violence is in no one’s interest, instead, an urgent return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward.”

She also stated that international principles and jurisprudence place the responsibility on conflict parties to ensure that civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targeted in armed conflicts.

According to Kamboj, India’s approach to the Ukraine conflict will remain people-centered. India is providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine as well as economic assistance to some of its neighbours in the Global South who are experiencing economic hardship, despite rising food, fuel, and fertiliser prices as a result of the ongoing conflict.

“India continued to remain concerned over the situation in Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in the loss of countless lives and misery, particularly for women, children, and the elderly, with millions becoming homeless and forced to seek shelter in neighbouring countries. Reports of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are also deeply worrying,” she said.

She asked some fundamental questions during her speech to the United Nations General Assembly, such as  “Are we anywhere near a possible solution acceptable to both sides? Can any process that does not involve either of the two sides, ever lead to a credible and meaningful solution? Has the UN system, and particularly its principal organ, the UN Security Council, based on a 1945-world construct, not been rendered ineffective to address contemporary challenges to global peace and security?”