Munmun Kaur
Published On: February 28, 2022 at 12:30 IST
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on February 27, called for a rare Emergency Special Session of the 193 member-strong United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
This came after there was a deadlock in the United Nations’s last meeting that was held on February 25, with Russia exercising its Veto power.
The Resolution convening the General Assembly session was supported by 11 votes, 1 against-vote of Russia. Meanwhile, India, China, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) abstained from voting.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) emergency session is to be held on February 28.
In totality, India has abstained from three votes in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in Russia-Ukraine conflict matter, first at the end of January on a procedural vote to take up the matter in the UNSC, then during February 25 discussion on the resolution deploring Russian aggression, and then on February 27 on whether to take it to the UNGA.
Clarifying its stand, India has emphasized returning to the diplomatic path.
In an indirect critical reference to Russia’s decision to take the military route India’s permanent representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti sympathized with the regrettable situation in Ukraine and the diplomatic route being given up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his conversation with both Ukraine’s and Russia’s President urged for a return to diplomatic dialogue.
Although, on February 27, Ukraine’s President Zelensky announced the talks “Without any preconditions”.
But at the same time he added that he did not “Believe in the outcome of the meeting”, just wanted to ensure no Ukrainian citizen had any doubt that he, as President, did everything to stop the war.
The United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said,
“Russia cannot veto our voices. Russia cannot veto the Ukrainian people. And Russia cannot veto the UN Charter. Russia cannot, and will not, veto accountability”.
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