By Shweta Aggarwal
Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin that this is not the age of war, New Delhi underscored its growing wariness with Moscow by reacting sharply within hours of Russian cruise missiles hitting Ukrainian cities, including civilian facilities in Kyiv.
The latest Russian offensive killed at least 11 people, and elicited a prompt response from India, which said that it is “deeply concerned” at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
“India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and the death of civilians,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on October 10. “We reiterate that escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest. We urge immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation,” it said.
The statement underlined that India has consistently maintained since the beginning of the conflict that the global order is anchored in the principles of the UN charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and raised concerns over the safety of nuclear facilities in the wake of the escalation of Russia-Ukraine war.
“They are trying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earth…destroy our people who are sleeping at home in (the city of) Zaporizhzhia. Kill people who go to work in Dnipro and Kyiv,” Mr Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app on October 10.
“The air raid sirens do not subside throughout Ukraine. There are missiles hitting. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded.”
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