Russia hails India’s stance on Ukraine crisis as New Delhi calls for restrain and constructive diplomacy

Russia on Friday lauded India’s balanced stance on the Ukraine crisis in a security council meeting even as the tensions between Russia and NATO has reached its tipping point.

Indian ambassador to the United Nations, T.S. Tirumurti, on Thursday at the Security Council, called on all the involved parties to exercise restrain and adopt the path of diplomacy to find an amicable solution to the crisis. “India has been in touch with all concerned parties. It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue… India’s interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond,” Ambassador Tirumurti said. “In conclusion, we reiterate our call for the peaceful resolution of the situation by sincere and sustained diplomatic efforts to ensure that concerns of all sides are amicably resolved through constructive dialogue,” Ambassador Tirumurti added.

The twitter handle of the Russian embassy in India hailed India’s pragmatic stance on the issue. “We welcome #India’s balanced, principled and independent approach,” commented the handle on a / @IndiaUNNewYork tweet which highlighted India’s comments in the UNSC meeting.  
 

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Ambassador Tirumurti invoked the Normandy format (talks involving Germany, Ukraine, France and Russia) which he argued will help implement the crucial political provisions of the Minsk Agreement in its true spirit to bring peace to the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. “… we welcome the recent meetings of political advisers of Normandy format countries in Paris and Berlin. We also welcome the unconditional observance of the July 2020 ceasefire, the reaffirmation of ‘Minsk Agreements’ as the basis of work under the Normandy format and the commitment of all sides to reduce disagreements on the way forward.”
 

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India avoided any mention of the reports of shelling in the Donbas region as well as Russian Parliament’s resolution to urge President Putin to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk provinces as independent republics. Yesterday, it was reported that the separatists leaders of the two abovementioned provinces called for civilian evacuation in a sign of deteriorating security situation.