UNGA adopts resolution on Ukraine condemning Russian referendum

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a resolution condemning the Russian referendum of the four Ukrainian regions amid abstention by India and China.

A total of 143 members voted in favour of the resolution while five voted against it. As many as 35 abstained from the resolution, including India, China and South Africa. The resolution comes days after Russia vetoed a similar proposal in the UN Security Council, in which India too had abstained.

In an explanation of the country's vote, India's permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said the country's decision to abstain was "consistent with our well-thought-out national position". There are also "other pressing issues" at play and some of them have not been adequately addressed in the resolution, she said.


"My prime minister has said unequivocally that this cannot be an era of war. With this firm resolve to strive for a peaceful solution through dialogue and diplomacy, India has decided to abstain," Kamboj said.

Kamboj said India is "deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of civilian infrastructure and deaths of civilians". She added, "We have consistently advocated that no solution can ever be arrived at the cost of human lives. Escalation of hostilities and violence is in no one's interest. We have urged that all efforts be made for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an urgent return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy".

India also pulled up Pakistan for raising the issue of Kashmir during the Ukraine resolution debate, saying such statements by Islamabad deserve the "collective contempt" of the international community.

Kamboj said: "It is important, however, to set the record straight. The entire territory of J&K is and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India irrespective of what the representative of Pakistan believes or covets. We call on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism so that our citizens can enjoy their right to life and liberty."