CIAO DATE: 07/2014
June 2014
Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre
The statement by India’s national security adviser on March 6th 2014 referring to “legitimate” Russian interest in Ukraine was unsurprisingly criticised in the West, but appreciated in Russia. Most observers missed other important elements in the statement: (1) reference to Ukraine’s internal issues; (2) recognition that both Russian and other interests were involved; and (3) emphasis on a peaceful settlement, reconciliation and negotiation. Debate on the Ukrainian crisis has been largely absent in India due to preoccupation with national elections, widespread consensus that Russia is a dependable “friend of India”, and sneaking admiration of President Putin for his “decisiveness” in promoting Russia’s interests and open defiance of the West. While China and Pakistan have deployed historical/ethno-cultural arguments to dispute Indian sovereignty over territories that India considers its own, India has consistently rejected claims to alter the territorial status quo on grounds of kinship across sovereign borders.
Resource link: Indian perspectives on the Ukrainian crisis and Russia's annexation of Crimea [PDF] - 142K