Diplomatic efforts over India's position on Ukraine heat up
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New York: Russia and rival European forces leave no stones unturned to win India over to their side. Special envoys of Russia, US, Britain and Mexico are either on the way or already landed in India to discuss the Ukraine situation with their Indian counterparts.
More than discussing the situation, the parties to the conflict want to ensure India's support at the United Nations.
However, all along India has been keeping a neutral position, often defying US-led sanctions against Russia.
Earlier, US President Biden openly but not vehemently described India's position in the crisis as "somewhat shaky."
Days after this comment, his Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh is in New Delhi on a whirlwind visit.
The architect of sanction on Russia, Daleep Singh's visit coincides with the jaunt of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Thursday.
White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said on Wednesday that Singh would discuss the consequences of Russia's unjustified war against Ukraine and mitigating its impact on the global economy.
Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, the Foreign Minister of Mexico is in India.
The visit is important after India abstained from a resolution in UN that Mexico sponsored along with France on the Ukraine humanitarian situation. The resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority.
The most India has done in criticizing Russia was asking it to respect the UN Charter, international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Last week, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi came to India to discussion border issues. Alongside on Wednesday German Foreign and Security Policy Adviser Jens Plotner was here.
On Wednesday, Daleep Singh met with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who tweeted that they "discussed at length steps for further deepening India-US economic & strategic ties. Our complementary partnership will help us build resilient economies in a dynamic world order", according to IANS.
The Ukraine crisis proves India's emerging importance internationally, especially in a situation that is not close home to India.