We emphasise need for all sides to maintain peace to ensure amicable solution: India at UN meet on Russia-Ukraine crisis
India on Tuesday said that the escalation of tension between Ukraine and Russia is a “matter of deep concern” and called for “restraint on all sides”, saying “constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour”.
Speaking at an emergency meeting called by the United Nations Security Council on the Ukraine crisis, India’s Permanent Representative to United Nations TS Tirumurti, said, “We have been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine and the related announcement by Russia. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region.”
He further underscored that the safety and security of civilians is essential, adding the well-being of Indians is of priority to the government.
“More than 20,000 Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indians is of priority to us,” Tirumurti said.
The Indian envoy said that India “strongly emphasise” the vital need for all sides to maintain international peace and security by exercising the “utmost restraint” and intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure that a “mutually amicable solution” is arrived at the earliest.
Tirumurti also stressed that space needed to be given “to recent initiatives undertaken by parties which seek to defuse tensions.”
The UNSC meeting comes at the request of Ukraine, the United States and six other countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into two pro-Moscow rebel regions of eastern Ukraine – Donetsk and Lugansk – after signing decrees to recognise them as independent on Monday, defying Western threats of sanctions and drawing immense backlash from several nations, including the US.
Following the recognition of the two separatist-held regions, the Kremlin leader also directed the defence ministry to assume “the function of peacekeeping” in the areas.
In a 65-minute televised national address from his Kremlin office, Putin described Ukraine as a failed state and “puppet” of the West and said it was necessary to “take a long-overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence” of the two regions.
In recent weeks, Russia has deployed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s borders, triggering fears of an invasion.
Russia has been maintaining that it has no plans to launch an offensive against Ukraine but its actions so far are unlikely to convince the West.
