India on Thursday denied that they had chosen “against Russia”, on the US Security Council during the procedural vote on whether to allow Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to talk to the board virtually during the debate about the Ukraine situation on August 24. Russia, who once asked for a vote, was contrary to allowing the President of Ukraine to speak through VTC (teleconferencing video) and called for him to come directly to New York or allow the Ukraine Ambassador to speak during the debate that marked six months of conflict. China Abstain, while India, along with the remaining 12 members, gave a vote to support Mr. Zelensky spoke in the debate. Officials said the voting was not about Russia or Ukraine, but about whether to choose or oppose Zelensky’s participation.
My understanding is that we have not chosen anyone. That is a proposal to allow him to speak virtually, and we allow it. That is the third chance he spoke virtually [at the United Nations], and we support him. So there is no question about us who voted against Russia, “said Mea Arindam Bagchi’s spokesman when asked about the voting at his weekly media briefing.
At the United Nations on Wednesday, Indian permanent representative Ruchira Kamboj has requested diplomacy and dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, and said India continued to send humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict and worked with other countries to reduce the food and fuel that emerged from the conflict. Officials emphasized that India’s establishment on this issue did not change, underestimating the importance of India’s voting to allow Mr. Zelensky’s speech.
India’s voting is considered unusual because this is the first time India’s vote on the UN problem related to the Ukraine conflict has “opposed” Russian voting. In more than a dozen votes like that in the UN General Assembly of the United Nations and the United Nations since February this year, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on the cities of Kyiv and Ukraine in what he called “Special Military Operations”, India had abstained and refused to support anything Critical statement of Russian actions.
Technically, yes, we choose to oppose Russian preferences, but in reality the questions in front of us are different,” said an official.
India’s voting also followed a few weeks after the Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar spoke with Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on August 8 regarding humanitarian assistance, including medicines and bandages that had been sent by India to Ukraine.
However, since then Ukraine has increased criticism of New Delhi’s decision to substantially increase Russian oil imports, and in a virtual press briefing on August 17, Mr. Kueba said he hoped that more practical support” from India.
When India buys Russian crude oil [with discount], they must understand that discounts must be paid by Ukraine blood. Every Russian crude oil bar that India gets, has mostly Ukraine blood in it, “Mr. Kueba added, in response to the question from The Hindu.
In interactions in Bangkok on the same day, Mr. Jaishankar has maintained India’s position, said that Indian poor people are unable to pay higher fuel prices. “Every country will try to ensure the best agreement that can be done for high energy price bearings and India does the exact same thing,” said Mr. Jaisankar.
