Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Ukraine crisis: Russia welcomes India’s good diplomacy, ‘independent’ position



New Delhi


A good diplomacy and foreign policy is also about the right mix of balance in framing the standpoint during conflicting situations.


“We welcome the independent position India has taken in the UN Security Council twice already and which was expressed openly by the Indian external affairs minister and other officials,” Russia said on the Modi government's clarity on the Ukraine crisis.





Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible 

global power and it takes an “independent and balanced” approach to world affairs.


Babushkin said, referring to statements made by the Indian side at two Security Council meetings 

on the Ukraine crisis.


He also said the crisis would not impact India-Russia ties, including in areas of defence, and that there will 

be a “huge” Russian participation in the DefExpo in Gujarat next month.


“The Indian activities at the UN Security Council are fully reflecting the merit of our special and 

privileged strategic partnership,” he said.


It may be mentioned that while there is an escalated tension between Moscow and the West 

especially the United States after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway 

Ukrainian regions as independent states, India at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council 

on Monday specially called for “restraint on all sides”.


New Delhi had laid emphasis that the immediate priority was “de-escalation of tensions”, taking 

into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace.


Specifically asked whether the Western sanctions will adversely impact India-Russia defence 

cooperation including supply of S-400 missile systems, Babushkin said,

“We keep in mind the possibility of the negative influence of sanctions with regard to our cooperation in 

particular affairs, including defence. But at the same time, when it comes to our case with India, we have 

very strong and trusted cooperation".


“We continue our work with our Indian partners in defence. We have big plans and we hope that our 

partnership will continue," Babushkin further said. 


He said the Western sanctions against Russia will negatively affect the Russian economy and 

banking system.


The Russian diplomat also said India and Russia don’t “threaten” each other with unilateral sanctions 

and don’t interfere in each other’s domestic affairs.


He said NATO has been a source of 'instability' and that the Western countries are trying to exert 

more pressure on Russia.


He alleged that Ukraine has been under “external control” since 2014 and that the US has been 

sending thousands of tonnes of military equipment to that country during the period.


Moscow will be open to sharing sophisticated technologies with India, and bilateral defence cooperation 

is a “strong factor of international peace and stability", he said.


ends 



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