Times when Ukraine had voted against India at UNSC

India abstained on a US-sponsored United Nations Security Council resolution against the Russian aggression in Ukraine with New Delhi saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes and expressed regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. With Ukraine facing a grave crisis, the Volodymyr Zelenskyy-led government has requested India to intervene and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

 

PM Narendra Modi had already conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities. Ukrainian Ambassador to India Igor Polikha had also urged PM Modi to play a more significant role in de-escalating the tensions with Russia as Modi and Putin share a mutual respect.

 

 

With India now abstaining from UNSC resolution against the Russian aggression in Ukraine, it has criticism from the West as well as the Indian Opposition. However, people seem to not remember that there were instances when Ukraine had not extended its support when India needed it the most.

 

Ukraine was one of those countries that had opposed India’s nuclear tests in 1998 and had condemned India’s actions at the security council following the 1998 nuclear test. When the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had decided to nuclear tests in 1998, Ukraine, along with 25 other countries, had stood against India’s security interests to express grave concern regarding India’s nuclear tests. Ukraine had also voted in favor of UN Resolution 1172 that had condemned the nuclear tests conducted by India.

 

 

 

Ukraine had also voted YES for UN interference in the Kashmir issue. On the other hand, the erstwhile Soviet Union had vetoed several moves made against India in the UN Security Council on the Kashmir issue. Last year, after India scrapped Article 370 to the Indian constitution that extended special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Russia described the move as India’s internal matter.