SOURCE: API
According to a report citing recently leaked US defence and intelligence documents, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval assured Russia that India would not take action against it in multilateral forums. The report also claims that Doval informed Russia that the Ukraine conflict would not be a major topic at the upcoming G-20 Summit in India, which is being chaired by India this year.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India has faced criticism from the West for not condemning Russia and for continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is seen as a vital component of the Russian economy. However, Doval told his Russian counterpart, Nikolay Patrushev, that India supports Russia in multilateral forums.
The report further suggests that the Modi government is working to ensure that the Ukraine conflict does not feature prominently at the G-20 meeting despite significant pressure to do so. The article notes the historical relationship between India and Russia and cites Prime Minister Modi’s message to President Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit last year, where Modi emphasized the importance of democracy, diplomacy, and dialogue.
While the report acknowledges that India does not support Russia’s actions in Ukraine, it notes that India has long relied on Russia’s support at the United Nations and has limited options but to maintain economic and energy ties with Russia.