Ahead of a scheduled UN General Assembly debate and voting on the Ukraine crisis, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday night .

“Good call today with Nepal’s Prime Minister @SherBDeuba to discuss Russia’s unprovoked attack and our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Blinken tweeted after his telephone call with Deuba.

The conversation between Deuba and Blinken comes two days after Nepal’s Parliament ratified the Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact, a $ 500 million US grant to Nepal.

Secretary Blinken discussed Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and premeditated attack on Ukraine and the importance of respecting the UN Charter’s principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, Ned Price, a State Department spokesperson said in a brief statement.

“He also highlighted that this marks 75 years of the United States and Nepal’s diplomatic relations and noted that Nepal’s decision to move forward with the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) would allow the electricity transmission and roads project to create jobs, infrastructure, and improve the lives of the Nepali people,” the State Department added.

Nepal has decided to vote against Russian aggression and its unilateral decision to invade Ukraine in the UN General Assembly and will support the UN resolution.

In his statement in New York on Tuesday night, Amrit Rai, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations said they oppose any threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of any sovereign country.

“Return to the path of peace is never late. We urge Russia and Ukraine to resume dialogue to give peace a chance” said Rai at the UNGA emergency special session in New York that is scheduled to vote on a UN resolution against Russia.

Earlier in Geneva, Nepal had voted in favor of Ukraine’s call at the UN Human Rights Council for an urgent debate on the situation in Ukraine and to condemn Russia’s military operation.

According to the UN Human Rights Council, 29 nations including Nepal voted in favor of holding an urgent debate on the situation of Ukraine.

While General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they carry political weight.

Blinken’s call to Deuba comes at a time when the United States sees an action at the United Nations as a chance to show that Russia is isolated because of its invasion of Ukraine.

“We will continue to work closely together on economic development and regional challenges,” Blinken said.

The secretary agreed to strengthen efforts to build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic and work towards addressing the climate crisis, the statement reads further.