new Delhi: India absented itself for the third time in less than a week from participating in a UN General Assembly resolution on Wednesday that strongly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The 193-member General Assembly voted to reaffirm its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and strongly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The resolution was adopted with 141 votes in favour, five member states voting against and 35 votes.
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India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti said differences can be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy. He also said that India supported the international community’s call for an immediate ceasefire.
Tirumurti said, “India is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Ukraine. An Indian national died in Kharkiv yesterday. We express our deepest condolences to his family and every citizen who lost their lives in this conflict.”
“India calls for a safe and unhindered passage for all Indian nationals who are still stranded in Ukraine,” Tirumurti told the UN General Assembly.
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Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said Moscow was not attacking civilian facilities and civilians.
“Ukraine can have a peaceful landscape when radicals are concerned about preserving civilian lives rather than hiding behind them,” said Vasily Nebenzia.
The resolution also condemned Russia’s decision to increase the preparedness of its nuclear forces and condemned Belarus’s involvement in the “unlawful use of force against Ukraine”.
The resolution called for an immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through political dialogue, negotiations, mediation and other peaceful means.
About 100 UN member states co-sponsored the resolution titled ‘Aggression against Ukraine’ including Afghanistan, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Kuwait, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.