Ukraine: Pressure building up on India
Hindustan TimesFor the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started last month, comments by United States President Joe Biden and US undersecretary for political affairs, Victoria Nuland, signalled the emergence of differences between the world’s biggest and oldest democracies. Mr Biden said the world mounted a “united front” across Europe and the Pacific, through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Quad, on Russia – with the “possible exception” of India, which was “somewhat shaky”. There is consensus across the American political, legislative and executive branches about the depth and importance of ties with India, and despite some dismay about New Delhi’s stance at the United Nations, bilateral ties are seen as resilient and capable of weathering disagreements on certain issues. That the statements come days before a crucial special emergency session of the UN General Assembly that will take up a draft resolution seeking condemnation of Russia’s offensive against Ukraine – foreign secretary Harsh Shringla has flown to New York ahead of the event – is significant.