The United Nations Security Council issued the consensus adoption of the first unanimous statement on the Russia-Ukraine war. However, UNSC released the utterance on Saturday, ten weeks into the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, the council was under the monthly Presidency of the United States of America when it adopted the statement.
The first Presidential statement on the Russia Ukraine crisis refers to it as a ‘dispute’ rather than a war, invasion, or conflict. In addition to this, there was no description of Russia’s special military operations. Norway and Mexico drafted the declaration.
Russia has consistently tried to use its veto power to obstruct unanimous presidential resolutions in the past. But, Russia’s agreement points toward a compromise in the statement’s language. According to experts, the UNSC’s referral of the Russia-Ukraine crisis as a ‘dispute’ took weeks of negotiations.
The UN Security Council expressed its support for the peacemaking efforts of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. As per the council, Guterres made impeccable steps to find a serene and peaceful solution to the dispute. Guterres even visited Moscow and Kyiv to meet the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine.
India’s Opinion
A non-permanent member of the UNSC, India, said, “diplomacy will be a lasting casualty.” India has refrained from taking sides and maintained diplomacy throughout. Repercussions of diplomacy were the killings in Bucha that called for a separate investigation.
The statement became crucial when Russia resumed attacks in parts of Ukraine after celebrating victory day. In conclusion, in past resolutions passed in the UN, the language of this unanimous statement is different. For instance, the statement to withdraw all the Russian forces from Ukraine saw 141 votes in favor, five against, and 35 refusals to vote.
“India remains on the side of peace and therefore believes that there will be no winning side in this conflict and while those impacted by this conflict will continue to suffer, diplomacy will be a lasting casualty.”
T.S. Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative at the UN
