New resolution at UNGA targets Russia; Jaishankar meets Guterres

“A wide ranging discussion with UNSG @antonioguterres. Exchanged views on the global impact of the Ukraine conflict, especially on food and energy security. Implications for developing countries are serious,” Jaishankar said in a Twitter post Friday.

“Spoke about latest developments in respect of Afghanistan and Myanmar. Appreciate his interest in working with India to effectively address important contemporary challenges,” he said.

His visit comes at a time when Liechtenstein has moved a resolution which aims to make P5 (Permanent Five) members, who cast a veto in the UNSC, explain themselves before the UN General Assembly. This is directed at Russia and China, who have been vetoing resolutions moved by the remaining three P5 members on Ukraine.

Liechtenstein’s mission at the UN has now tabled, on behalf of 38 co-sponsors, a resolution that mandates a meeting of the UN General Assembly whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council. “The resolution is a meaningful step to empower the GA and strengthen multilateralism,” it said. It is expected to be taken up by the end of the month.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also expected to visit India on April 21-22, and the issue of India’s position on Ukraine is likely to be high on agenda. Last month, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss came to India and had discussions with Jaishankar, just a day before Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held his meetings.

Earlier this month, on April 7, India abstained on the vote to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. This was India’s 12th vote at the United Nations where it abstained – 11th since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 – but it was Delhi’s sharpest message to Moscow on its actions so far.

For, an abstention – it doesn’t count to calculate the tally — at the UN General Assembly on the resolution to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council is, effectively, seen as siding with those who voted “Yes”, essentially the West-led by the US.

More so, when according to a note accessed by news agency Reuters, Russia had warned countries that a Yes vote or Abstention will be viewed as an “unfriendly gesture” with consequences for bilateral ties. Yet, New Delhi chose to abstain. This call was taken at the highest levels in the government for due deliberation and consideration.

What had moved the needle for New Delhi was the now widely documented killing of innocent civilians in Bucha, a town north of Kyiv. Images of civilian bodies littering the streets and Moscow’s denial sparked a global outcry and shrunk the diplomatic space that India has carefully carved out since the invasion began in late February.’

There were some early signs. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called up Jaishankar on April 5, barely an hour before the UN Security Council met that day. India, for the first time, “unequivocally condemned” the killings as “deeply disturbing” and supported the call for an “independent probe.”

The very next day, Jaishankar reiterated the position, and made it clear that India was not moving from its position, despite Moscow’s outreach.