Russia-Ukraine Tensions | UNSC Meeting on Ukraine

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UNSC Meeting on Russia- Ukraine Tension- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: International Relations- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

UNSC Meeting on Russia- Ukraine Tension- Context

India called for quiet diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine tensions at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Ukraine.
India also called for the immediate de-escalation of the Russia-Ukraine situation while taking into account the security interests of all.

UNSC Pledges to Stop Nuclear Proliferation

UNSC Meeting on Russia- Ukraine Tension- Key Points

India’s Stand: India was one of three countries (Kenya and Gabon were the others) that abstained from a procedural vote on whether or not Ukraine would be discussed.
- India reiterated its support for a July 2020 ceasefire, the 2014 Minsk Agreement and the Normandy Process.
- The Normandy Format refers to discussions held between Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France, who have met since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.
China’s Stand: China and Russia voted against the move to discuss the Russia-Ukraine issue in the UN Security Council (UNSC).
USA’s Stand: The U.S., which initiated the meeting and nine other countries voted to hold the discussion on the Russia-Ukraine issue in the UNSC Meeting.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC): Key Points about UNSC

UNSC is one of the six main organs of the UN. Article 23 of the UN Charter concerns the composition of the UNSC.
- The other 5 organs of the United Nations are—the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.
It’s primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Under UN Charter, it’s obligatory for the member states to implement decisions of the UNSC.
Main headquarter: New York City at the UN Headquarters.
Composition: It is composed of 15 members- 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent.
- Permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Non-permanent members: Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members out of a total of 10, for a two-year term.
Process of the election of non-permanent members:
- Regional distribution of seats: Five for African and Asian countries; two for Latin American and Caribbean countries; two for Western European and other countries; one for Eastern European countries.
  - Out of five, three are allocated for Africa and two for Asia.
- A contesting country needs to secure the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly session (a minimum of 129 votes if all 193 member states participate).
  - A contesting country has to obtain this irrespective of whether it has been endorsed unanimously by its group or not.
  - For example, India’s candidature for the 2021-22 term was endorsed unanimously by the Asia Pacific group. Still, India had to secure a minimum number of votes in the General Assembly session. It garnered 184 votes in the General Assembly.
- Decision-making at UNSC: Each member has one vote. For any resolution to pass, 9 members out of 15 should vote in favour including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
  - The veto power of Permanent members: A “No” vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.
  - A non-member of the security council can participate in UNSC discussions but without a vote, if it is discussing a matter which directly affects the interests of the concerned country.
- UNSC Presidency: rotates every month among its 15 members.
- Enforcement of UNSC decisions: they are typically enforced by UN peacekeepers, military forces voluntarily provided by member states, and funded independently of the main UN budget.