Vladimir Putin may be a pariah in the West because of his invasion of Ukraine, but two powerful allies have steered clear of publicly condemning the war since it began: China and India. However, both nations used diplomatic-speak on Monday to call for a de-escalation and to signal they're worried about the latest Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities.
- China: "All countries deserve respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, per the New York Times. She added that "support should be given to all efforts that are conducive to peacefully resolving the crisis.”
- India: "India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians,” said Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
That's a far cry from the US condemnation of the strikes, and Axios notes that neither statement contains "strong criticism" of the Russian missile strikes. But the "statements are the latest indicator that both countries are continuing to distance themselves from Russia as the war in Ukraine drags on," per the story. Both countries have provided crucial economic support to Moscow in recent months by buying more Russian oil as European nations do the opposite, notes the Times. A story at Politico, meanwhile, notes that calls are growing for India and China to make clear to Putin that any kind of nuclear strike should be off the table. The Russian leader has refused to rule that out. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
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