NEW DELHI: The government Monday called for immediate de-escalation on the Ukraine issue and also for taking into account legitimate security interests of “all countries” after it abstained from a procedural vote in UN Security Council on whether or not discussions were required on the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the discussions did take place with 10 countries led by the US voting in favour of having a meeting, India joined Kenya and Gabon in abstaining. Russia and China voted against. The vote was a procedural one and not subject to veto. It required 9 affirmative votes. The US apparently was confident all along that there was support from more than 9 member-states for discussions.
Following the vote, India for the second time in the past few days said the issue should be resolved through diplomatic and constructive dialogue.
“India’s interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate deescalation 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,” said India’s ambassador to UN T S Tirumurti, adding India had been in touch with all concerned parties. He also mentioned that more than 20,000 Indian students and other nationals were living in Ukraine including in the border areas.
India’s decision to abstain is in line with its balancing act that has seen the government refrain, despite pressure from US to speak up, from saying anything to call out Moscow’s alleged aggression. Apart from the significance it attaches to defence ties with Russia, India is also banking on support from Russia in ensuring that its interests in Afghanistan are not undermined. Moscow proposed and helped India organise a conference on Afghanistan last year in November. Russia has also been working to defuse tensions between India and China, as obvious from its proposal for a Russia-India-China summit even as the military standoff in eastern Ladakh continues.
Significantly, just ahead of the UNSC meeting, Russian deputy minister of foreign affairs Sergey Vershinin visited India to hold discussions on UN related issues. Russia will take up the presidency of the Council for February on Tuesday. It is understood that the Ukraine issue was discussed during his meetings here.
“It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. In this context, we welcome the efforts underway including under the Minsk Agreement and the Normandy format. Flowing from the recently concluded meeting in Paris under the Normandy format, we also welcome the unconditional observance of the July 2020 ceasefire (in Donbass) and reaffirmation of Minsk Agreements as the basis of work under the ongoing Normandy format, in particular, commitment of all sides to reduce disagreements on the way forward,” said Tirumurti, while also welcoming their agreement to meet in Berlin in two weeks.
The ambassador also urged all parties to continue to engage through all diplomatic channels and to keep working towards the full implementation of the “Minsk Package”.
“Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour. Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security. More than twenty thousand Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well- being of Indian nationals is of priority to us,” he added.
While the discussions did take place with 10 countries led by the US voting in favour of having a meeting, India joined Kenya and Gabon in abstaining. Russia and China voted against. The vote was a procedural one and not subject to veto. It required 9 affirmative votes. The US apparently was confident all along that there was support from more than 9 member-states for discussions.
Following the vote, India for the second time in the past few days said the issue should be resolved through diplomatic and constructive dialogue.
“India’s interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate deescalation 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,” said India’s ambassador to UN T S Tirumurti, adding India had been in touch with all concerned parties. He also mentioned that more than 20,000 Indian students and other nationals were living in Ukraine including in the border areas.
India’s decision to abstain is in line with its balancing act that has seen the government refrain, despite pressure from US to speak up, from saying anything to call out Moscow’s alleged aggression. Apart from the significance it attaches to defence ties with Russia, India is also banking on support from Russia in ensuring that its interests in Afghanistan are not undermined. Moscow proposed and helped India organise a conference on Afghanistan last year in November. Russia has also been working to defuse tensions between India and China, as obvious from its proposal for a Russia-India-China summit even as the military standoff in eastern Ladakh continues.
Significantly, just ahead of the UNSC meeting, Russian deputy minister of foreign affairs Sergey Vershinin visited India to hold discussions on UN related issues. Russia will take up the presidency of the Council for February on Tuesday. It is understood that the Ukraine issue was discussed during his meetings here.
“It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. In this context, we welcome the efforts underway including under the Minsk Agreement and the Normandy format. Flowing from the recently concluded meeting in Paris under the Normandy format, we also welcome the unconditional observance of the July 2020 ceasefire (in Donbass) and reaffirmation of Minsk Agreements as the basis of work under the ongoing Normandy format, in particular, commitment of all sides to reduce disagreements on the way forward,” said Tirumurti, while also welcoming their agreement to meet in Berlin in two weeks.
The ambassador also urged all parties to continue to engage through all diplomatic channels and to keep working towards the full implementation of the “Minsk Package”.
“Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour. Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security. More than twenty thousand Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well- being of Indian nationals is of priority to us,” he added.