EAM Jaishankar hit out at Russia, without taking its name, during his speech at the UNSC’s session on Ukraine

Without taking Russia’s name, India for the first-time slammed Moscow in strongest possible words over the Ukraine war. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said, “The trajectory of the Ukraine conflict is a matter of profound concern for the entire international community.” The EAM said this in his statement at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine on Thursday.

Expressing concern over the veiled threat by Russian President Vladimir Putin of the nuclear option, the EAM said, “The future outlook appears even more disturbing. The nuclear issue is a particular anxiety.”

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that “this cannot be an era of war,” EAM Jaishankar said, “In a globalized world, the impact of the conflict is being felt even in distant regions. We have all experienced its consequences in terms of surging costs and actual shortages of foodgrains, fertilizers and fuel. On this score too, there are good grounds to be worried about what awaits us.”

Taking up issues related to deepening crises in the developing countries on account of the Ukraine war, Jaishankar said, “The global south, especially, is feeling the pain very acutely. We must therefore not initiate measures that further complicate the struggling global economy and that is why India strongly reiterates the need for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.”

It is due to the war and consequent crisis brought about it that India is providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and economic support to some of our neighbours under economic distress, Jaishankar said.

Mincing no words on the reported incidents of killings and human rights violations of civilians in the war-hit Ukraine, he said, “let me emphasize that even in conflict situations, there can be no justification for violation of human rights or of international law. Where any such acts occur, it is imperative that they are investigated in an objective and independent manner. This was the position we took regarding the killings in Bucha and this is the position we take even today.”

The EAM also didn’t spare China for its decision to block listing of Pakistan-based terrorists at the UNSC under the pretext of ‘technical hold.’

“The fight against impunity is critical to the larger pursuit of securing peace and justice. The Security Council must send an unambiguous and unequivocal message on this count. Politics should never ever provide cover to evade accountability. Nor indeed to facilitate impunity. Regrettably, we have seen this of late in this very Chamber, when it comes to sanctioning of some of the world’s most dreaded terrorists. If egregious attacks committed in broad daylight are left unpunished, this Council must reflect on the signals we are sending on impunity. There must be consistency if we are to ensure credibility,” Jaishankar said.