India, US abstain on UNGA resolution calling for immediate withdrawal of Russian troops

India abstained on a UN General Assembly draft resolution that called for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine.

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The 193-member UN General Assembly voted on Monday on the draft resolution ‘Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine’ tabled by Ukraine and its European allies.

The resolution, that was adopted with 93 votes in favour, 65 abstentions and 18 votes against, 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. 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 the war in Ukraine stood 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.

Noting that more than 12,600 civilians have been killed and many more injured in the three years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, UN Secretary General Guterres reaffirmed the “urgent need for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace – one that fully upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, in accordance with the UN Charter, international law, and resolutions of the General Assembly”.

Ukraine began its fourth year of all-out war with Russia on Monday, hosting a slew of European and world leaders for a summit, but unsure it could rely any longer on its staunchest ally, the United States. “Three years after the start of Putin’s ‘three-day’ special military operation, Ukraine is alive, fighting and our country has more friends in the world than ever,” Zelenskyy told a summit of visiting leaders in Kyiv for the anniversary.

They included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and the leaders of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden. UK, Germany, Japan and Turkey’s leaders spoke by video link.

Kremlin praises Trump’s fresh approach to ties

The Kremlin praised Trump on Monday for trying to understand the “root causes” of the Ukraine conflict and bring an end to it, in what it said was a marked contrast with the approach of Europe. The comments are one of the Kremlin’s clearest acknowledgements yet of the sea-change in US policy on the war since Trump took office five weeks ago. Reversing three years of US efforts to punish and isolate Moscow under the administration of Joe Biden, Trump has moved quickly to repair ties with President Vladimir Putin and endorsed parts of the Kremlin narrative.