India abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution that condemned Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine and demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from the neighboring country.

On Friday, The UN Security Council voted for the draft resolution sponsored by the US and Albania and supported by several other nations including Poland, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Luxembourg, and New Zealand.

Eleven countries voted in favor of the resolution while three countries, including India, abstained.

After that, India’s envoy to the UN T S Tirumurti provided an explanation of vote (EOV) that laid out the rationale behind India’s stance in the matter.

The reason, Why India Abstained?

In its EOV, India called for a return to the path of diplomacy and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

It appealed to all concerned parties to immediately cease violence and hostilities and referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with President Putin urging the same.

“India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts be made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities. No solution can ever arrive at the cost of human lives,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said.

“It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this resolution,” he added.

India has been in touch with all sides, urging parties concerned to return to the negotiating table, the envoy said.

The welfare and security of the Indian community, in particular, stranded students and their evacuation from Ukraine is the immediate priority.

By abstaining, India retained the option of reaching out to relevant sides in an effort to bridge the gap and find the middle ground with an aim to foster dialogue and diplomacy, said Tirumurti.

An earlier draft of the resolution had proposed moving it under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides the framework within which the Security Council may take enforcement action. However, this was dropped in the final version that was put to vote.

(With inputs from India Today)

By: Priya Bharti