- Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIA on Monday (31) abstained from the procedural vote at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) ahead of a meeting to discuss the tension on the Ukraine border.
While 10 members, including the US, UK, France, the UAE, Ghana, Albania, Norway, Brazil, Ireland and Mexico voted in favour of taking up the Ukraine issue, Russia and China voted against it.
Three members, including India, Gabon and Kenya abstained.
The US, UK, France, Russia and China are five permanent members of the council while the rest 10 are non-permanent members.
The council needed nine votes in favour to go ahead with the discussion.
In a statement, India’s representative to the council said, “We have been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine, including through ongoing high-level security talks between Russia and the United States, as well as under the Normandy format in Paris.”
“India’s interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate de- escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond. We have also been in touch with all concerned parties. It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue,” it added.
Russia meanwhile accused the US of trying to “create hysteria” over the situation on Ukraine’s borders. US president Joe Biden responded by warning Moscow of “severe consequences” should it “walk away from diplomacy”.
“If Russia is sincere about addressing our security concerns through dialogue, the US and our allies will continue to engage in good faith. If instead Russia attacks Ukraine, it’ll bear the responsibility and face swift and severe consequences,” he said.
Russia has reportedly stationed 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine.
While the Kremlin denied that it has any plans to invade Ukraine, the mobilisation of troops has seen repeated warnings coming from the Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) member states.
