For first time, India votes against Russia in UNSC during procedural vote on Ukraine
India for the first time on Wednesday August 24 voted against Russia during a “procedural vote” at the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine, as the 15-member powerful U.N. body invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address a meeting through a video teleconference.
This is for the first time that India has voted against Russia on the issue of Ukraine, after the Russian military action began in February. So far, New Delhi has abstained at the U.N. Security Council on Ukraine, much to the annoyance of the Western powers led by the United States.
Western nations, including the U.S., have imposed major economic and other sanctions on Russia following the aggression. India has not criticized Russia for its aggression against Ukraine
. New Delhi has repeatedly urged the Russian and Ukrainian sides to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue, and expressed support for any diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict between the two countries.
India is currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term ending in December. Ambassador Roshira Kamboj, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, speaks during the United Nations Security Council briefing on Ukraine.
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, speaks during the United Nations Security Council briefing on Ukraine. India UN NewYork On August 24, the United Nations Security Council held a meeting to assess the six-month-old conflict on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
At the start of the meeting, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily A. Nebenzia called for a procedural vote on the Ukrainian President’s participation in the meeting via videoconference.
Following his statements and that of Ferit Hoxha from Albania, the Council invited Mr. Zelenskyy by 13 votes in favor and 1 against to participate in the meeting by videoconference. Russia voted against such an invitation, while China abstained.
India calls for immediate cessation of hostilities and violence in Ukraine Mr. Nebenzia insisted that Russia would not refuse the participation of Mr. Zelenskyi, but this participation must be personal. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Board decided to operate by default, but such meetings are informal and after the epidemic reached its climax, the Board returned to its provisional rules of procedure.
He reiterated his country’s objection to the President’s attendance via video conference and demanded a procedural vote in this regard, which was opposed by India and 12 other countries, and Mr. Zelensky supported addressing the Council via video conference. she did Mr. Hoxha of Albania argued that Ukraine was at war and that the situation in that country required the presence of the President.
Given this unique situation, he endorsed Mr. Zelensky’s participation via video call and urged the other members to do the same. Mr. Nebenzia regrets that Board members have spoken out against adhering to the organization’s regulations. “We can understand the logic of Kyiv’s Western backers…,” he said, expressing disappointment that other members contributed to the erosion of the Council’s very foundation and practices. Soon thereafter, Mr. Zelenskyy in his remarks via a videoconference called for the Russian Federation to be held accountable for its crimes of aggression against Ukraine. “If Moscow is not stopped now, then all these Russian murderers will inevitably end up in other countries,” he said.
“It is on the territory of Ukraine that the world’s future will be decided,” he added. “Our independence is your security,” he told the UNSC. Zelenskyy argued that Russia was threatening the world with nuclear catastrophe by turning the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant into a war zone. The plant has six reactors, only one of which exploded in Chernobyl, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must constantly deal with the situation as soon as possible, he said.
Ukraine’s president has urged Russia to end its “nuclear blackmail” and completely withdraw from its nuclear power plants. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Nations Sergiy Kislitsa (centre) speaks to reporters after the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security held at the UN headquarters on August 24, 2022. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the situation in and around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, pointing to “flashing warning lights”.
Any actions that might endanger the physical integrity, safety or security of the plant are unacceptable, and any further escalation of the situation could lead to self-destruction, he said and called for the security of the plant to be ensured, for the facility to be re-established as purely civilian infrastructure and for the IAEA to conduct a mission to the site as soon as possible. Mr. Guterres also expressed concern over alleged violations of international humanitarian law. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas Greenfield alleged that “Russia’s goal is as clear as ever: to dismantle Ukraine as a geopolitical entity and erase it from the world map.
“Its disinformation campaigns are increasingly being weaponised to prepare for further attempts to annex Ukrainian territory,” she said. However, the international community will never recognise Russia’s attempt to change Ukraine’s borders by force, she told the U.N. Security Council. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya holds up an explosive pellet during a Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security on August 24, 2022, at United Nations headquarters.
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya holds up an explosive pellet during a Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security on August 24, 2022, at United Nations headquarters. Noting that Ukraine had an impeccable record of nuclear energy safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, she said the Russian Federation recklessly attacked and seized control of that site by force, risking nuclear disaster.
The American envoy voiced concern about Moscow’s “so-called filtration operation”, which involves the systematic and forced deportation of Ukrainian civilians to remote areas of the Russian Federation. Envoys from France, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom, Gabon, Ghana, Mexico and China, along with the European Union in its capacity as observers also spoke on the occasion. Ukraine celebrated its Independence Day on Wednesday, exactly six months since Russia’s military invasion of the country began on February 24.
