India's measured stance on Russia-Ukraine crisis

Earlier this week, the UN Security Council had held an emergency meet on the Ukraine crisis. Speaking there, India’s permanent representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, had called for restraint from all sides and stated that the issue could only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.

For India, Russia is a strategic and privileged partner and one that stands by New Delhi against any adverse move at the United Nations as a veto-wielding nation. It is also India's most important military and defence partner.

While Russia has welcomed India’s “independent position” with regard to the Ukraine crisis, both America and Ukraine have expressed dissatisfaction over India's balanced approach at a time when the world is on the brink of war.

Ukrainian envoy to India Igor Polikha has also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention amid the Russian invasion.