India abstains from voting in UNSC on Ukraine situation

The United Nations will hold emergency session of General Assembly today to discuss Russia's military operations in Ukraine. UNGA President Abdulla Shahid will preside over the 11th Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly, at the UN Headquarters in New York later tonight.

The UN Security Council voted last night to hold the special emergency session of UNGA. India abstained from voting on the resolution. Russia voted against it and eleven UNSC members voted in favour of it. Given the vote was procedural, no country had a veto, and the resolution was adopted. China, and the United Arab Emirates also abstained.

India said, it is regrettable that the situation in Ukraine has worsened further since the Council last convened on this matter.

India's permanent representative to the UN T.S. Tirumurti said India



reiterates its call for immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostillties. He said, there is no other choice but return back to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. Mr Tirumurti said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated this strongly in his recent conversations with the leadership of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. India welcome the announcement by both sides to hold talks at the Belarus border, he said.

Mr Tirumurti added India continues to be deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals, including a large number of Indian students, who are still stranded in Ukraine. He said that India's evacuation efforts have been adversely impacted by the complex & uncertain situation at the border crossings. Taking into consideration the totality of circumstances, India decided to abstain.