New Delhi: India on Wednesday (December 3) abstained from a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution demanding that Russia immediately return Ukrainian children forcibly transferred or deported during the ongoing conflict.

The resolution, titled "Return of Ukrainian children", was adopted during a resumed emergency special session on Wednesday. It passed with a recorded vote of 91 in favour, 12 against and 57 abstentions, demonstrating sharp regional divisions.

It came a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India for the annual summit. On his arrival, he was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport and hosted for a private dinner at the latter's official residence.

There was no ‘explanation of vote’ by India at the UNGA, but New Delhi has consistently abstained from resolutions that explicitly condemn Russia's actions since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This includes the initial resolution in March 2022 deploring the invasion, as well as subsequent votes on the annexation of territories and demands for reparations.

In past explanations of vote, Indian diplomats have argued that resolutions lacking the consent of both parties do not contribute to a conducive environment for peace.

The resolution adopted Wednesday demands that Moscow ensure the "immediate, safe and unconditional return" of all Ukrainian children forcibly transferred from occupied territories. It urges Russia to cease practices such as family separation and the forced change of children's personal status through citizenship or adoption.

According to the UN press release, Annalena Baerbock, president of the UNGA’s eightieth session, described the forced transfers as a clear violation of international law.

"Imagine you’re a 16-year-old … soldiers armed with machine guns … burst into your home," Baerbock said. "What we are witnessing is not merely a tragedy of some children, but a violation of international law."

Ukraine's representative stated that Russia has deported at least 20,000 Ukrainian children, though many remain unlocated. Russia rejected the allegations, calling them a "particularly cynical lie" intended to derail peace efforts.

In 2023 the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant against Putin for his alleged role in illegally deporting children from Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine to Russia following the invasion.

The adoption of Wednesday's resolution with 91 ‘yes’ votes mark a numerical decline in support compared to the immediate aftermath of the invasion in March 2022, when resolutions condemning Russian aggression secured 141 votes.

While the core bloc of support – comprising the United States, European Union members, and allies such as Japan and South Korea, remained intact – the ‘yes’ vote did not cross the 100-mark seen in earlier procedural and substantive votes on the conflict.

The 57 abstentions included major developing nations and non-aligned countries from the Global South like China, India, Brazil and South Africa, and most Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

Nearly all of Africa abstained or was absent, with only a handful of African nations voting in favour. Central Asian republics including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan all abstained.

Explaining its abstention, Brazil stated that it supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity but found that the resolution's tone does not contribute to fostering dialogue.

Similarly, Bahrain, on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said that its members abstained from voting on the text due to “ongoing political and humanitarian efforts made by several to mediate between the Ukrainian and Russian sides”.

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