World

Reading India on Ukraine crisis: 6 takeaways from New Delhi’s statement at the UN

kari waker 3 years ago 2 min read

India said on Tuesday (February 22) that the escalation of tensions along the border between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was “deep issues”, and that this development has the potential to damage peace and security in the region.

This was described at an emergency meeting called by the UN Security Council (UNSC), after Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the independence of two separatist regions supported by Russia in East Ukraine.

First, India has not condemned Russian’s statement against two separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions. While India may like to play the statement as neutral, but the western block, led by the United States, will not see it that way.

Second, India has talked about “this development” without mentioning Russian actions at all. “Escalation of tensions along the Ukrainian border with the Russian Federation is a deep problem. This development has the potential to weaken the peace and security of the region,” India’s permanent representative on the United Nations, T Tirumu, said at the UNSC meeting.

It basically uses diplomats to suggest Russia not to take further steps that might ignite further situations.

Internationally, Russia’s actions are widely seen as violations of sovereign territorial integrity, and violations of law and international agreements – including the Minsk Agreement in 2014 and 2015 between Kyiv and a separatist supported by Russia, and the 1994 Memorandum of Bucharest, which was originally signed by the Russian Federation, The US, and Britain, on security guarantees of threats or use of power that affect the territorial integrity or independence of Ukrainian politics.

Third, the main concern for India remains an Indian citizen aged 20,000 odd, mostly students, in Ukraine. Many of these students are registered with medical colleges in Ukraine.

“Security and security of civilians is very important,” said Tirumuti. “More than 20,000 students and Indian citizens live and study in various parts of Ukraine, including in the border areas. Indian welfare is a priority for us.”

New Delhi has so far issued at least three advisors – including one week ago asking students to leave this country with the earliest flights available, while. Some students have asked the Indian embassy to persuade their college to start the class online, so their studies are not affected. The Indian Embassy tried to impress the University and Universitas Ukrainian, need to be done.