India, 12 others abstain in UNSC on vote on Russian-led draft decision on Ukraine

The draft decision by Russia was cosponsored by Syria, North Korea and Belarus. It did not get adopted within the Council on Wednesday because it didn’t get the required 9 sure votes to go.

Russia and China voted in favor of the decision whereas there have been no nations voting in opposition to. India and the remaining Security Council members abstained.

Permanent and veto-welding Council member Russia had known as for a vote within the 15-nation Security Council on its draft decision that “calls for that civilians, together with humanitarian personnel and individuals in susceptible conditions, together with girls and kids are absolutely protected, requires negotiated ceasefire for enabling secure, fast, voluntary and unhindered evacuation of civilians, and underscores the necessity for the events involved to agree on humanitarian pauses to this finish.”

The Russian decision, which makes no reference to its invasion of Ukraine, calls upon all events involved to permit secure and unhindered passage to locations exterior of Ukraine, together with to overseas nationals with out discrimination, and facilitate secure and unhindered entry of humanitarian help to these in want in and round Ukraine, bearing in mind the actual wants of ladies, women, males and boys, older individuals and individuals with disabilities.

While different Council members made statements after the vote on the decision, India didn’t make any assertion. India had beforehand abstained on two events within the Security Council and as soon as within the General Assembly on resolutions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield tweeted that “in an unified protest vote”, 13 members of the Security Council abstained from Russia’s farcical decision deflecting blame for the humanitarian disaster it has created in Ukraine.

Just now, in an unified protest vote, 13 members of the Security Council abstained from Russia’s farcical decision deflecting blame for the humanitarian disaster it has created in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/fVoPGdJzHR

— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) March 23, 2022

In the Explanation of Vote, Thomas-Greenfield stated it truly is “unconscionable” that Russia would have the audacity to place ahead a decision asking the worldwide neighborhood to resolve a humanitarian disaster that Russia alone created.

“The United States intends to abstain on this textual content as a result of, to state the apparent, Russia doesn’t care in regards to the deteriorating humanitarian situations, or the tens of millions of lives and desires the battle has shattered. If they cared, they might cease combating.

“Russia is the aggressor, the attacker, the invader — the sole party in Ukraine engaged in a campaign of brutality against the people of Ukraine — and they want us to pass a resolution that does not acknowledge their culpability,” she stated.

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward stated that her nation is not going to vote for any decision, both within the Security Council or within the General Assembly, that doesn’t acknowledge that Russia is the only explanation for this unfolding humanitarian disaster — and due to this fact the important thing to ending it.

“Russia’s draft known as for all events to respect worldwide humanitarian legislation. It ignored that Russia is committing battle crimes. Russia’s draft known as for the safety of civilians, together with girls and kids. But it omitted that Russia is bombing maternity hospitals, colleges and houses,” Woodward stated.

The Russian decision within the Security Council was one of many three resolutions on the humanitarian scenario in Ukraine that have been put up earlier than the UN General Assembly and the Security Council Wednesday.

The UN General Assembly resumed its eleventh Emergency Special Session on Ukraine Wednesday and had two resolutions for consideration earlier than it. The 193-member General Assembly is anticipated to vote on the resolutions Thursday.

One UNGA decision by Ukraine and its western allies on the ‘Humanitarian penalties of the aggression in opposition to Ukraine’ calls for a right away cessation of the hostilities by Russia in opposition to Ukraine, particularly of any assaults in opposition to civilians and civilian objects. It additionally calls for that civilians, together with humanitarian personnel, journalists and individuals in susceptible conditions, together with girls and kids, be absolutely protected.

It calls for that the events adjust to their obligation to make sure the secure and unhindered humanitarian entry of humanitarian personnel in addition to their technique of transport, provides and tools to these in want in Ukraine and its neighboring nations.

The different rival decision proposed by South Africa ‘Humanitarian scenario emanating out of the battle in Ukraine’ makes no point out of Russia. It requires a right away cessation of hostilities by “all parties” within the battle, and encourages political dialogue, negotiations, mediation and different peaceable means aimed toward attaining lasting peace.