India believes that there is no point in shedding blood, and at the cost of innocent lives, If it chooses any side, it will only choose the side of peace and for an immediate end to violence.
The Invasion and its Impact
The invasion of Ukraine began in the early mornings of February 24, 2023, when Russia escalated the already strained relations with Ukraine when it began a full-scale invasion by making use of military force and Russian soldiers in Donetsk and Luhansk on orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The invasion started with Putin announcing that there would be a “special military operation” taking place, seeking the “demilitarisation” and “denazification” of Ukraine.
“Billions of people face the greatest cost-of-living crisis in a generation”-these were the words echoed by the UN Global Crisis Response Group, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent shock waves through every corner of the globe. This event engulfed the world with limited food supply, energy shortage as well as rising inflation and debt. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine poses a direct challenge to the rules-based world order. There is a need to defend and counter Russian aggression.
It was for the first time, since World War II that a major European Power invaded a weaker neighbor and annexed half its territory. This unprovoked Russian aggression, against Ukraine, has shaken the foundation of geopolitics and most importantly international multilateralism. The crisis has changed the face of international politics and led to disastrous consequences like the refugee crisis, food shortage, displacement, war crimes, genocide, and much more.
This invasion has shown how the world has changed the face of war by emphasizing total annihilation of the enemy instead of just physical occupation of territory. Also, the ongoing war has faded the little chance that the world economic order had to redeem itself post-pandemic as the global economy had crashed during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The emergency Special Session
As an emergency special session was called for by the General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an affront to the collective conscience of humanitarian ideals and that it is high time that all nations take a step back from the brink in itself.
With February 23, 2023, marking the first anniversary of the invasion, the U.N. Secretary-General highlighted the humanitarian consequences that are occurring due to the invasion by stating, “The one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine stands as a grim milestone — for the people of Ukraine and the international community.”
India’s stand on Ukraine Invasion
Right from the beginning, India has made it clear that it stands on firm grounds of International Humanitarian ideals, and that India will be on the side of peace and dialogue as well as diplomacy.
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Supporting this stand, External Affairs minister, S. Jaishankar stated with the Ukraine conflict continuing to rage, that often India isasked whose side are it is on. To answer that, each time, it has straightforwardly and very honestly remained on its firm stand of India being on the side of peace and that it will remain firmly there. India respectfully supports the UN Charter and its founding principles and it is always open for calls of dialogue and diplomacy.
India maintains its neutral stand
Though when, the 193-member General Assembly, adopted the draft resolution, which was put forth by Ukraine titled, ” Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”. The resolution received 141 votes, with seven against it. India abstained from voting being one of the 32 nations who did the same.
India has continuously followed its neutral stand, choosing the side of peace and demanding the cessation of hostilities. inspired by Jawaharlal Nehru, India has continued to maintain its policy of not engaging in any kind of decision which would promote polarity of any sort.
