UNSC meeting on Ukraine

24 August; 10:00 hrs

Remarks by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj

Permanent Representative of India to the UN

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Mr. President, 

We thank the Secretary General for his comprehensive briefing on his visit to Ukraine last week. 

2.      As we meet today to mark six months since the beginning of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, India has just dispatched its twelfth consignment of humanitarian aid to Ukraine; consisting of 26 types of medicines, including ‘hemostatic bandages’ meant to stem bleeding of deep wounds in children and adults. This was a specific request by the Ukrainian side and we made sure that we reacted in the fastest possible time to meet this. 

3. In the last six months, India has dispatched 11 consignments of approximately 97.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries like Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Poland. Ukraine and its neighbouring countries offered their full support in the relief and evacuation operation of around 22500 Indian nationals in February-March this year. This humanitarian aid and assistance symbolizes the human centric development approach of the Government of India, a central tenet of our national beliefs and values, which perceives the whole world as one family. 

4.     India remains deeply concerned over the situation in Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in loss of lives and countless miseries for its peoples, particularly for women, children and elderly, with millions becoming homeless and forced to take shelter in neighboring countries. We believe that going forward, we need to focus on the following aspects:

i.     One, in terms of diplomacy, India continues to advocate for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to violence. We encourage talks between Ukraine and Russia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself, more than once, spoken to them, in this regard.

ii.     Two, the ground situation calls for sustained prioritization of urgent humanitarian relief. I have just elaborated that we continue to give the highest priority to the requests that we receive in this regard. In this regard, we reiterate the importance of UN Guiding Principles of Humanitarian Assistance. Humanitarian action must always be guided by the principles of humanitarian assistance, i.e., humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. These measures should never be politicized.

iii.     Three, we will work with the international community and partner countries to mitigate the economic hardships that are resulting from this conflict. The impact of the Ukraine conflict is not just limited to Europe. In particular, the conflict is exacerbating concerns over food, fertilizer and fuel security, particularly in the developing countries. 

iv.     Food security remains a major concern. It is necessary for all of us to adequately appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and accessibility when it comes to food grains. India has been approached for the supply of wheat and sugar by many countries and we are responding positively. In the last three months alone, India has exported more than 1.8 million tons of wheat to countries in need, including to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Yemen. 

v.     We are also trying to increase the production of essential agrarian inputs like fertilizers in India. There is also a need to focus on the availability of fertilizers and keep the supply chains of fertilizers smooth at a global scale. 

vi.     Similarly, efforts should be made to ensure stability in the global supply of fuel commensurate with demand. Open markets must not become an argument to perpetuate inequity and promote discrimination.

vii.     We have delivered for the world in terms of vaccines. We did it earlier for medicines. So, I would like to assure this Council, that India will step forward whenever the global south is constrained on aspects of food, health and energy security and we will do this in a manner that is helpful to the global economy, and does not take undue advantage of countries in distress.

5.     To conclude, India’s approach will be to promote dialogue and diplomacy with an overarching aim to end the conflict and work with other partners to mitigate economic challenges emerging from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

6.     It is in our collective interest to work constructively, both inside the United Nations and outside, towards seeking an early resolution to this conflict. We continue to reiterate that the global order is anchored on international law, UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.

I thank you. 

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