It needs to be noted here that even though India has also faced the brunt of war in Ukraine, it has not, so far, criticized Russia for its measures even as India was rebuked for sitting on the fence and preferring to just assess the situation when the war started and later turned bad. However, at the same time, there is a need for understanding the depth of ties between India and Russia which date back to the start of the Cold War. With the emerging global order, India, however, has managed and carved out a niche for itself where it has ensured that it will stand upright when it comes to its interests. And here, while Russia is the biggest arms supplier to India, it was obvious that India would not speak in favor or against the war in Ukraine—which it did not.
But, acting wisely, the PM indirectly put India’s stand before the world by telling the Russian President that today’s time is not a time for war, which has, at the same time, done little to counter the influence of China which has expressed its willingness to work with Russia to protect the shared core interests. As of now, chances of India’s direct participation in working towards ending the war in Ukraine are zero, however, on the back-channel, as was visible from the body language of the PM, matters are being sought after, aimed at an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war which has bitten everyone, including Russia itself. India, again, like a big brother in global relations and diplomacy, at least in Asia, has acted smart, trying its best to persuade the key players to set matters right for the greater good of the region and the global economy. Ukraine, too, must shun its rigidness and go for dialogue and put an end to the war which has been going on for months now.
