The United Nations General Assembly voted in an emergency session on Wednesday to urge an immediate halt to Moscow’s attack on Ukraine and the withdrawal of all Russian forces, with prolonged applause erupting after a massive display of opposition to the invasion from the 193 member nations. The UN wants Russia to “Deplored in the strongest terms” its aggression in Ukraine, reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and demanded Russia “immediate cease its use of force” and “completely and unconditionally”
Only five countries — Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea, and Syria — voted against the resolution, and 34 abstained.
India refrained from voting on the resolution titled “On Ukraine’s Aggression.” On Monday, India’s permanent representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti, urged for a return to diplomacy, stressing India’s commitment to the UN Charter, international law, and respect for all governments’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is the fifth time that India has abstained from a Ukraine-related vote on a UN platform, and the fourth in less than a week.
