India abstained on a US-sponsored United Nations Security Council resolution on Saturday that “deplores in the strongest terms” Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine.
While Russia vetoed the resolution, China and the United Arab Emirates also abstained. The remaining 11 members of the UNSC voted in favour of the resolution, which did not pass since Russia vetoed it.
Russia chaired the meeting, since it holds the presidency for the month of February.
“India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine,” said India’s Permanent Representative at the UN, T S Tirumurti.
On Friday, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Russian President Vladimir Putin and “appealed for an immediate cessation of violence”.
India was under pressure to take a stronger position at the UNSC.
“We are also deeply concerned about the welfare and security of the Indian community, including a large number of Indian students, in Ukraine,” he added, underlining India’s concern.
“The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” he said.
