Neutrality and Moderation: The Hindu Editorial on India’s Stand in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Tuesday was an important marker in the ongoing war in Ukraine. While Mr. Modi has frequently spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and met him last month, his interactions with Mr. Zelensky have so far been limited to the period when the government was involved in the evacuation of about 20,000 Indian students. The call came a few weeks after Putin met, and Mr. Zelensky joined Western leaders in praising Mr. Modi. His “Now is Not the Time for War” Comment, In return, Mr. Modi told Mr. Zelensky that there is no military solution to the conflict. they even talked a week later India chose to abstain from voting against Russia to hold a referendum and Connecting Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and KhersonHowever, none of the leaders mentioned it. They also discussed the vital importance of nuclear security, especially the Zaporizhzhya plant, which has been of great concern to the IAEA, which is involved in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to implement a nuclear security zone. The plant, under Russian control, and in the oblast province where Mr Putin recently announced “annexation”, is near the scene of a fight. The external affairs ministry said Mr Modi “underlined that the risk to nuclear facilities … could have disastrous consequences for public health and the environment”, although he did not specify from which side the risk arose. . Finally, Mr Modi expressed “India’s readiness to contribute to any peace efforts”, to which Mr Zelensky replied that he would not hold any talks with the “current President of the Russian Federation”.

Over the past seven months, war and Western sanctions have had a dramatic impact on global security, food, fuel and energy supplies, and it is important to keep the lines of communication open, as Mr Modi has with Mr Putin. and Mr. Zelensky. India has an established record in global peacekeeping. However, New Delhi can play a role only if it sets its position more clearly, and links it to its actions on the global stage. The government’s defiance of Western sanctions on oil and defense trade is understandable in the context of protecting India’s national interests. However, it is hard to correlate Mr Modi’s remarks, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s, on the importance of adhering to the UN Charter and protecting territorial sovereignty, while India continues to abstain from all votes critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Keeps: Including the bombing of civilians, and the capture of occupied territories.