India may have abstained from the vote at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) вЂњthat deploresвЂќ the вЂњaggressionвЂќ against Ukraine, vetoed by Russia вЂ“ but the Explanation of Vote (EoV) did not mask theВ Narendra ModiВ governmentвЂ™s frustration with this strategic partnership. Third, the Indian government is clearly more-than-irate by RussiaвЂ™s unclothed belligerence. There is only one villain in this tragedy: Russia. The unfolding calamity is clear for all to see.

The catastrophic human effectsВ areВ broadcast across the country. This war isВ beingВ covered by Indian media anchors вЂ“ including those who have parachuted into Ukraine and its bordering states. вЂњ Russia has crossed a red line,вЂќ вЂњ Unjustifiable incursion,вЂќ вЂњ RussiaвЂ™s invasion of Ukraine is deplorable,вЂќ are commonplace sentences in editorials in Indian broadsheets. An increasing number of editorials in IndiaвЂ™s national dailies have not hesitated to call out Russian PresidentВ VladimirВ PutinвЂ™s tragic gamble. Second, theВ media or theВ fourth estate has a different perspective. Following RussiaвЂ™s recognition of Luhansk and Donetsk on 22 February, another вЂ“ recently retired вЂ“ ambassador to Russia statesВ thatВ whileВ вЂњRussia has not covered itself in glory,вЂќ there is вЂњno reason to doubt the merits of our longstanding relations with it.вЂќ This, of course,В was a view put across prior to the actual invasion of Ukraine. вЂњWe were there in 2014, and managed the pressures,вЂќ arguesВ a former Indian envoy to Russia. RussiaвЂ™s indefensible attempt at invading Ukraine has placed India in a bind that appears to elicitВ three sets of responses.ДЇirst, there are those who seem to be somewhat sanguine about the effects of RussiaвЂ™s belligerence.

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