PM Narendra Modi's stand on Russia-Ukraine war and his special focus on evacuation of Indians

While the international community continues to take measures to put pressure and further isolate Russia, India has been treading cautiously on the Russia-Ukraine crisis mainly due to its age-old ties with Moscow.

NEW DELHI: India has yet again advocated for peaceful settlement of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and said that the Narendra Modi-led government firmly believes in the path of “diplomacy and dialogue” for an amicable resolution of all issues.

While the international community continues to take stringent measures to put pressure and further isolate Russia, India has been treading cautiously on the Russia-Ukraine crisis mainly due to its age-old ties with Moscow.

While India has hugely welcomed talks between Russia and Ukraine for urgent resolution of the bloodier conflict between the two nations, it has apparently refrained from condemning the Russian invasion. In view of New Delhi’s time-tested ties with Moscow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is under tremendous international pressure to toughen its stance against Russia to oblige the “new friends in the West" as a mark of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

India had abstained on the UN resolution, along with China and the UAE while Russia voted against and 11 Council members in favour. It was the second time in as many days that India abstained on a Security Council resolution on Ukraine. India had on Friday abstained on a UN Security Council resolution by the US that 'deplores in the strongest terms' Russia's ''aggression" against Ukraine.

India, China and the UAE abstained on the resolution, which received 11 votes in favour by Albania, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, United Kingdom and the United States. The resolution on Friday was blocked since permanent member Russia, and President of the Security Council for the month of February used its veto. This led to a procedural resolution in the Council to refer the matter to an emergency special session of the General Assembly.