Take clear stand on Russia, US tells India

The US administration suggested that India should take a clear stand and distance itself from Russia, in the wake of the country repeatedly abstaining from voting on resolutions condemning Russia with regard to invading Ukraine.

Donald Lu, assistant US secretary of state for South Asian affairs said that India is a security partner of US to which they give much value and hope that India should distance itself from Russia in view of the extreme criticism being faced by it over Ukranian crisis.

He also said that the US officials had held talks with Indian officials on the importance of collectively condemning Russia”s acts. Ahead of the Quad meeting, the the US made it clear that “there is no room for excuses or equivocation”. The other Quad members, Australia and Japan, are supporting the US.

The US is seeing India’s three abstentions from voting in the UN against Russia as something that the former is supporting the latter in connection with invading Ukraine.

These abstentions have also led to pitched battles between the hardliners who want India to be out to the test and others who accept that India is with Russia, in the wake of the fact that India needs the help of both Russia and Ukraine in extricating its students from Ukraine and India’s dependence on Russian arms’ supply, which is crucial in the wake of border tensions with neighbouring China.