Russia Expects India’s Support When UNSC Takes Up Resolution On Ukraine: CDA Babushkin

Russia's Charge d’affaires Roman Babushkin said India has a deep understanding of the reasons that led to the current situation in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Photo)

New Delhi: Russia has said it expects support from India at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) when the global body takes up crucial resolution on the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

Russia's Charge d’affaires Roman Babushkin said India has a deep understanding of the reasons that led to the current situation in Ukraine.

Babushkin added that Moscow is looking for New Delhi’s continued support in sync with the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries, PTI reported.

“We highly appreciate India's deep understanding of the current situation as well as the reasons that led to it. We expect India to support Russia at the UN Security Council,” he told PTI.

Lauding New Delhi’s stand, Babushkin also referred to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's comments earlier this week in Paris that the situation in Ukraine has its roots in the post-Soviet politics and the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“India's position has been very balanced and independent. We appreciate it and we continue to expect India's support in sync with the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries,” he said.

The UNSC is scheduled to vote this evening on a draft resolution on Russia's military operation in Ukraine as well as the escalating situation in the eastern European nation.

The draft resolution is set to condemn in the strongest terms Russia's military operation in Ukraine that has triggered strong outrage among the western powers.

A senior US administration official said Washington is putting forward the resolution “with every expectation that Russia will use its veto”, adding “they will underscore their isolation” in doing so.

Responding to a poser on India’s position on the draft UNSC resolution on the Ukraine crisis, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla earlier on Thursday said India has seen it, adding New Delhi's stand will depend on the final shape of its text.

"I am told that it would undergo considerable changes. We will wait to see the shape that the resolution takes before we can pronounce ourselves and the position that we will take on the issue,” he told a media briefing on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine.

Prime Minister Modi during the telephonic conversation reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue.

The Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.

Prime Minister Modi also sensitised the Russian President about New Delhi’s concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students.

He conveyed that New Delhi attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.

The two leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest.