At the UNSC meet to discuss the Ukraine crisis India’s permanent representative to United Nations Tirumurti on Thursday said, ” About 20,000 Indian students and nationals study and live in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border area. Their well-being is of top priority to us.”
“Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security”, said Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting in New york.
As the Russian troops have set up a camp near the Belarus-Ukraine border lines, India urges ‘quiet and constructive diplomacy’ will win the day. Tirumurti also added that his department had called all the concerned parties and warned them of the escalating scenario.
He further added, “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 aim towards securing long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv on February 15th asked all Indian citizens to temporarily evacuate the country. India has abstained from showing allegiance to any side and condemned the offensive planned by Russia on the Belarus-Ukraine border lines.
Just before Tirumurti gave his statement, the White House released a statement that Russia could attack any minute. Kamala Harris and Anthony Blinken also attended Munich Security Conference last week to discuss high-level diplomacy to contain the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Tirumurti’s statement at UNSC comes hours after Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
