An article co-authored by the ambassadors of the UK, France, and Germany to India, published just ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit, has stirred displeasure in New Delhi.
Top officials from the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed they have taken note of the piece published in The Times of India. They pointed out that its release timing is particularly unusual and stressed that providing public advice on India’s relations with a third country does not align with proper diplomatic practice.
The collaborative article, authored by French Ambassador Thierry Mathou, German High Commissioner Philipp Ackermann, and UK High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, is titled 'World Seeks an End to the Ukraine War, Yet Russia Appears Uncommitted to Peace'.
The piece condemns the Russian President for persisting with the conflict in Ukraine. Citing drone and missile strikes, it asserts that such actions demonstrate a lack of genuine intent for peace. It stresses that these assaults are not accidental but represent a deliberate strategy by Russia to pursue its aggressive campaign with complete severity, and calls for an immediate halt. The article also charges Moscow with rejecting substantive talks and declining to agree to a ceasefire.
According to the article, the envoys stated that the governments of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—all NATO members—remain committed to offering unwavering support to Ukraine. They emphasized that as President Putin postpones meaningful peace negotiations, they will intensify both military and non-military assistance to help Ukraine defend its citizens, territory, and sovereignty.
The article's timing is notable, as it was published just days before the Russian President's arrival in Delhi to participate in the annual India-Russia summit at Prime Minister Modi's invitation.
Prior to the visit, Putin stated that Moscow intends to enhance its collaboration with India and China to a significantly higher level. He emphasized that the goal is to boost the technological aspect of this cooperation through various joint initiatives in sectors such as energy, industry, space, agriculture, and more.
Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in 2022, India has maintained a neutral stance, aligning its actions with its strategic priorities. Prime Minister Modi has consistently emphasized that this is not a time for war and urged a halt to the conflict. While Russia remains a long-standing ally, India also enjoys close relations with NATO members, including the United States, which has imposed sanctions on Moscow. New Delhi has skillfully managed these relationships through careful diplomatic balancing.
India has previously justified its trade relations with Russia, including crude oil imports, following widespread Western sanctions on Moscow. At the time, Dr. S. Jaishankar remarked that Western nations should move beyond the belief that Europe's issues are global concerns, while global issues are not Europe's concerns.