India Abstains as UNGA Adopts Resolution Against Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Out of the UN's 193 member states, 141 voted in favour of the resolution, five voted against and 35 abstained, including India.

(Photo: The Quint) 

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted with an overwhelming majority on Wednesday, 2 March, to pass a resolution "deploring" Russia's actions against Ukraine, demanding that it immediately withdraws its military forces from its neighbouring nation.

The resolution demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders”.

The resolution stated that the UN “deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine”, urging peaceful dialogue for resolution of the conflict.

Out of the UN's 193 member states, 141 voted in favour of the resolution, five voted against and 35 abstained, including India.

The resolution required a 2/3 majority of those voting yes to be adopted in the General Assembly.

The UNGA further deplored the involvement of Belarus in this "unlawful use" of force against Ukraine, calling upon the nation to abide by its international obligations.

The resolution also condemned Russia's move to increase the readiness of its nuclear forces.

Almost 100 UN Member States co-sponsored the resolution titled ‘Aggression Against Ukraine’. Among them were Afghanistan, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Kuwait, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The overwhelming support shown by countries to pass the resolution points to Russia's growing isolation in international quarters. While not legally-binding, the resolution aims at increasing pressure on Russia, as it expresses the views of the UN members.

This is only the 11th time since 1950 that an emergency session of the UNGA has been called.

'Urging India To Take a Clear Position': US Official

"Let me say that all of us have been working to urge India to take clear position, a position opposed to Russia's actions. But what have we seen so far? We have seen a number of abstentions," US Assistant State Secretary Donald Lu said at the US Senate Committee hearing on 'US Policy towards India'.

"We're making small steps as we assure you that we are working every day to make sure to close the gap between where we are and where our Indian partners are...senior state department officials are conducting various high-level dialogue with our Indian counterparts over Ukraine," Lu was quoted as saying by ANI.

(With inputs from The Guardian and ANI)