Russia has commended India’s “independent and balanced” stance following its abstention from a UN Security Council vote condemning Moscow’s “aggression” towards Ukraine.
Along with two other countries, China and the United Arab Emirates, India chose not to vote on the motion on Friday, reflecting the delicate balance that India has attempted to maintain between alliances with Russia and Western countries.
On Saturday, the Russian embassy in India applauded India’s stance.
“Greatly value India’s impartial and balanced voting posture in the UN Security Council,” it wrote on Twitter.
“Russia is dedicated to maintaining close discussion with India on the events surrounding Ukraine in the spirit of the unique and unique strategic cooperation.”
Although India is the world’s largest democracy and a member of the “Quad” alliance with Japan, Australia, and the United States, India has neither officially criticized nor declared Moscow’s actions an invasion.
New Delhi and Moscow had a tight alliance throughout the Cold War, which persists today, and Russia is India’s largest arms dealer.
The US has been discussing its stance on Ukraine with India, and on Saturday, it asked India to utilize its position with Russia to “defend the rules-based global order.”
“India and Russia have a connection that we don’t have, particularly in the defense and security sectors,”
US State Department spokesman Ned Price told the media.
“We have asked every nation with whom we have a relationship, and especially those with influence, to utilize that leverage constructively.”
Ever since the attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his worry over the bloodshed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Many people have been vocal in their criticism of India’s balancing act.
“Despite Russia’s apparent aggressiveness against Ukraine, India’s cautious, prevent angering Putin at all means approach demonstrates that it is unwilling to step up to big power obligations or be a trustworthy partner,”
international relations specialist Richard Haass remarked.
“Disheartening, as well as short-sighted, considering China’s ascent.”
The international frenzy comes as India begins an air evacuation drill for thousands of its students who have been stuck in Ukraine following Russia’s attack on the capital, Kyiv, and other towns.
After landing in Mumbai on Saturday, the first batch of around 200 Indian students who came on a particular flight displayed relaxation and delight.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine’s President, tweeted on Saturday that he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking “political backing,” just after Russia applauded India’s move to abstain from a UN vote condemning its incursion.
President Zelenskiy, who has won widespread fame for standing firm in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and refusing evacuation pleas, said he updated Prime Minister Modi on the progress of the Russian onslaught with more than a lakh intruders.
Official sources confirmed to PTI on Saturday that refraining from the Security Council resolution enabled India to preserve the opportunity of seeking out to all relevant parties to establish a common ground and develop communication and negotiation to defuse the issue.
Although India did not vote on the motion, it did call for nations’ “sovereignty and territorial integrity” to be respected, as well as an immediate end of “violence and hostilities.”
Edited by- Subbuthai Padma
Submitted By- Satheesh Kumar
