India abstains from procedural vote ahead of discussion on Ukraine at UNSC

India abstained from a crucial vote on Ukraine at the UN Security Council (UNSC) ahead of a meeting to discuss the situation on the Ukraine border.

India, along with Gabon and Kenya, abstained from the vote while Russia and China voted against it. All other 10 Council members, including Norway, France, the US, the UK, France, Ireland, Brazil, and Mexico, voted in favor of the meeting going through.

The Security Council only required nine votes in favor to go ahead with the discussion.

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Further, in the meeting, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti advocated “quiet and constructive” diplomacy and felt that any steps that increase tension “may best be avoided” by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security.

With over 20,000 Indian students and nationals living and studying in different parts of Ukraine, Tirumurti underlined the well-being of 'Indian nationals' as a priority.