India discards a procedural vote taken in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to call on Russia’s attack on Ukraine, even after New Delhi welcomed Moscow and Kyiv’s decision to have talks at the Belarus border. The resolution was accepted with 11 votes in favour, clearing the way for the General Assembly to meet on the crisis. India, China and the UAE abstained, while Russia voted against the resolution. This will be only the 11th such emergency session of the General Assembly since 1950.

“It is unfortunate that the situation in Ukraine has worsened since the Council last called on this matter,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in a statement. He stressed that “there is no other choice other than talks.” “We welcome today’s announcement by both of the sides to hold talks at the Belarus border,” he added.

The UNSC resolution was expected to be stopped since Russia, a permanent member of the Council and President of the UN organ for February, was sure to use its veto. Western nations said the resolution shows Moscow’s isolation on the global stage for its actions against Ukraine. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield had said after the failed UNSC vote that “we will be taking this matter to the General Assembly, where the Russian veto does not apply, and the nations of the world will continue to hold Russia responsible for its actions.”