India, 12 others abstain in UNSC on vote on Russia’s draft resolution on Ukraine

India, along with 12 other UN Security Council members, abstained on a resolution tabled by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Belarus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Syria joined the Russian Federation in submitting the text.

The draft resolution was defeated by a vote of 2 in favour to none against, with 13 abstentions, it would have needed nine votes in favour with no veto to pass.

Russia and China voted in favour of the resolution while India and the remaining Security Council members abstained.

The draft resolution by Russia demanded civilian protection in Ukraine and called for unhindered access for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

It was the Council’s third vote since 24 February and India abstained all of them. Twice in the Security Council and once in the General Assembly on resolutions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

After the vote on the resolution, other council members made statements, however, India did not.

United States said Russia is using the Council to provide cover for its brutal actions.  It is “unconscionable” that Russia has the audacity to submit a draft resolution requesting that the international community resolve a humanitarian crisis that Russia alone created.

Explaining that the United States will abstain from voting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said:  “To state the obvious, Russia does not care about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and the millions of lives and dreams the war has shattered. Russia is the aggressor, the attacker, the invader, the sole party in Ukraine engaged in a campaign of brutality against the people of Ukraine.”