The UK minister said she spoke with S Jaishankar to encourage an anti-Russian stance. (Represent)
London:
Britain on Monday said India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict was a result of its dependence on Russia and that the way forward would be to secure closer economic and defense ties. between India and Great Britain.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was asked about India’s stance during a hearing by the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC), the influential cross-party panel responsible for examining the governance and policy of the UK. Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The minister confirmed that she spoke with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to encourage a stance against Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
“I spoke to my counterpart, Minister Jaishankar, and encouraged India to stand against Russia and made it clear that we consider this a violation of our sovereignty, that every nation believes in it,” Mr. Truss said. Freedom and democracy must be absolutely loathsome.
“I think the problem for India is that there is some degree of dependence on Russia, both in terms of defense relationships as well as economic relationships. And I think the way forward is an economic relationship. economic and defense closer to India. Both the UK and our like-minded allies,” she said.
Referring to the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, which entered their second phase in London on Monday, the minister said the aim was to bring India closer to a circle of democratic country.
“I went to India as foreign minister. We’re working on closer security links, we’ve done joint exercises – for example, we’ve got the Ship Strike Group. Airport operations with India We are looking at areas like security, we are negotiating the Minister added.
FAC President, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, specifically asked Truss for her views on why she thinks India “did not vote along with 141 other countries” against Russia.
To date, India has abstained in all Ukraine-related votes condemning Russia’s actions at the UN, including a resolution in the Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council. . It stressed the need for an immediate end to violence in favor of diplomacy.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from the feed provided.)
