India abstained from voting against Russia yesterday. Speaking on the matter, US State Dept Spox Ned Price said, “we have a very close relationship with India & have regular engagements with our Indian partners… So at every level in multiple fora, we have had discussions about this.”
Earlier, India, at the UN Security Council voiced concern over the “urgent and pressing” humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine and said that New Delhi stands ready to help those who are in need of assistance in the current crisis.
“There is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. In such times of conflict, India attaches the highest priority to safety and well-being of civilians, in particular women, children and elderly. We are of the view that core principles of humanitarian assistance should be fully honoured,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said at the Security Council meeting Monday on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
He also said that given that safety of Indian nationals is of paramount importance to my govt, senior ministers from Government of India are being deployed as Special Envoys to Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. We stand ready to help neighbours stranded in Ukraine.
‘India remains deeply concerned at the unfolding developments in Ukraine…Our considered call for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostilities is an urgent imperative’ He said. He also added that urgent relief supplies including medicines will be dispatched tomorrow.”
