New Delhi: All eyes were on India on Friday when it abstained on a resolution of the UN Security Council which strongly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes.
It was a tough call for India to maintain a delicate diplomatic balance in the Russia-Ukraine war and it preferred to use strong words disapproving of Russia’s actions but chose to abstain.
Clearly, the resolution could not be passed as Russia used its veto. In the 15-member UN Security Council, the resolution received 11 votes in favor and three abstentions, including by India, China, and the UAE.
India expressed its “regret’’ that the path of diplomacy was given up.
A day before the crucial vote, the US had mounted pressure on India as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called up External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, emphasizing the need for a “strong collective response’’ to condemn Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified attack’’ on Ukraine.
Diplomatic sources said that India’s stand at UNSC was guided by the desire to find the middle ground and pave the way for fostering dialogue and diplomacy.