For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, the US voted with the Russians in an attempt to block a draft resolution by Ukraine at the UN that called for a “de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution” of the war against Ukraine.
The resolution was passed with the Europeans and the G7 (minus the Americans) voting in favour of the draft resolution.
India abstained along with China, one of Russia’s closest allies since the war broke out.
The final score: 93 countries, including major European countries like Germany, UK, France and the G7 (minus the US) voted in favour; 18, including Russia, US, Israel and Hungary voted against; and 65, including India, China and Brazil, abstained.
So far, the US had always voted with the Europeans in the last three years of the Russia-Ukraine war, and this shift in the US marks a major departure from its position signalling a break from Europe.
US Presiden Donald Trumpt has made that clear in his recent statements, and the direct talks with Russia in Riyadh — where both Ukraine and Europe were not present.
India’s abstention is not a surprise, since it has abstained from the UN resolutions on Russia-Ukraine war in the past. India’s voting was a manifestation of its diplomatic tightrope walk, with strategic partners on both sides.
That has been Delhi’s position showcasing neutrality that it doesn’t want to take sides. Significantly, Delhi has chosen to maintain its neutrality despite US shifting its position.
The 193-member UN General Assembly voted Monday on the draft resolution “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine” tabled by Ukraine and its European allies.
The resolution called for a “de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, marked by enormous destruction and human suffering, including among the civilian population, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law". India was among the 65 UN Member States that abstained on the resolution. Brazil, China, South Africa — four of the BRICS countries abstained. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Syria, Ethiopia, Argentina also abstained.
Among India’s neighbours, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka abstained, while Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Myanmar, voted in favour with the Europeans in the 93 who voted yes.
Among those who voted in favour are Australia, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Indonesia, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, Türkiye, and of course, Ukraine among others. This means that the G7 countries — minus the US — voted in its favour.
Among the 18 who voted against the draft resolution included, Russia, US, North Korea, Belarus, Hungary, Israel, Haiti, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Mali, Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Sudan among others As the resolution was adopted, the UNGA hall broke into applause with member states welcoming the adoption of the text.
The resolution comes on the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stressing that the war in Ukraine stands as a “grave threat” not only to the peace and security of Europe but also to the very foundations and core principles of the United Nations.
The US also tabled a brief rival resolution, “The path to peace,” that mourns the tragic loss of life throughout the “Russian Federation-Ukraine” conflict. A draft amendment tabled by France sought to replace “the Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict” in the US-tabled text with “the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation”.
The resolution, as amended, was adopted with 93 votes in favour, 8 against and 73 abstentions.
The US abstained in the final vote on its own resolution. India abstained on the US-tabled resolution as well.
In proposing the American draft resolution, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the US Mission to the UN, said multiple UNGA resolutions have demanded that Russia withdraw its forces from Ukraine but those resolutions have failed to stop the war.
“It has now dragged on for far too long, and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine, in Russia, and beyond,” she said.
Shea said as the world marks the third anniversary of the conflict, the need is for a resolution “marking the commitment from all UN Member States to bring a durable end to the war” and added that the US draft resolution “makes this very point.”
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa said her country is exercising its “inherent right to self-defence” following Russia’s invasion, which violates the UN Charter’s requirement that countries respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations.
The UNGA resolution by Ukraine also emphasised the need to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law committed on its territory.
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