NEW DELHI: With Russia intensifying its offensive in Ukraine, India continued to remind Moscow in UN that all member states are not only obliged to follow the UN Charter but also respect international law and territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. The latest remark by India’s permanent ambassador to UN TS Tirumurti in UNGA, which is expected to vote on a resolution condemning Russian action on Wednesday, followed PM Narendra Modi’s underscoring of the same point in his conversations with his counterparts from Romania and Slovakia on Monday.
Tirumurti made the same point while addressing a UNSC meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. He emphasised on the need for ensuring safety of civilians while offering help from India to stranded citizens of countries in the neighbourhood and developing world.
While India’s voting pattern in UNSC and UN Human Rights Council has been favourable to Russia, the language used now is markedly different from the first statement on Ukraine in late January when it asked for immediate de-escalation taking into account “legitimate security interests” of all countries.
Tirumurti said there is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine and that, in such times of conflict, India attaches the highest priority to safety and well-being of civilians, in particular women, children and elderly.
“We’re of the view that core principles of humanitarian assistance should be fully honoured,” he said, while recalling India’s decision to send relief supplies to Ukraine. India said it remains deeply concerned about the safety of thousands of Indian citizens, including students, stranded in Ukraine and that its evacuation efforts have been adversely impacted by developments on ground at the border crossings.
“Given that the safety of Indians is of paramount importance to my government, senior ministers from the government of India are being deployed as special envoys to Ukraine’s neighbouring nations. We thank them for their cooperation at this difficult time. We stand ready to help those from our neighbours and developing countries who are also stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance. We also support all UN humanitarian efforts,” he said, adding there is no other option but to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue as the only way ahead.