China and India abstained from voting on a UN resolution condemning Russia for annexing parts of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday that claimed four regions in Ukraine were now part of Russia.

The UN's Security Council voted to declare Putin's actions illegal and invalid and to recognize the regions of Ukraine as part of the country.

The resolution passed in a 10-1 vote with Russia vetoing it. India, Brazil, and Gabon did not vote.

During the war, China and India refused to impose sanctions on Russia. The UN vote came just weeks after Putin admitted his counterparts in both countries were concerned about the war.

Putin acknowledged that China's president had questions and concerns about the war during a meeting with him. Modi criticized the war during a meeting with Putin.

Modi told Putin that the era of war was over and that he had spoken to him.

I know about your concerns and your stance on the conflict in Ukraine. We want the whole thing to end as quickly as possible.

One expert told Insider that Putin may have been motivated to escalate the war by the fear of losing his partners in the war.

Robert English, a professor at the University of Southern California who studies Russia, the Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe, told Insider that the evidence of criticism of allies like China or India puts more pressure on him.