Lagatar24 Desk
New York, Feb 22: Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two separatist Ukrainian areas, Donetsk and Lugansk, early Tuesday. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday, amid rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
TS Tirumurti, India’s representative to the United Nations, spoke during the meeting, urging all parties to exercise caution and stating that the issue could only be handled via diplomatic conversation. He expressed his “great concern” over the escalation of tensions along the Ukraine-Russia border.
“These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. We cannot afford to have military escalation. The immediate priority is de-escalation. We call for restraint on all sides. We’re convinced that this issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. We need to give space to recent initiatives undertaken by parties which seek to defuse tensions,” he said.
“We strongly emphasise the vital need for all sides to maintain international peace and security by exercising the utmost restraint and intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure that a mutually amicable solution is arrived at the earliest,” he added.
TS Tirumurti stated during the UNSC meeting that more than 20,000 Indians reside and study in various districts of Ukraine. He emphasised that the Indian government’s top priority is the safety of these Indian nationals.
Meanwhile, the US slammed Russia for acknowledging the independence of two rebel Ukrainian areas at the UNSC meeting, calling it a “clear attack on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” intended to “provide a pretext for further invasion of Ukraine.”
