India opened its G20 presidency during the week with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for an end to war, implicitly rebuking longstanding ally Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
New Delhi and Moscow have ties dating back to the Cold War, and Russia remains by far India's biggest arms supplier.
India has shied away from explicit condemnations of Russia over the war, despite its economy being stung by the soaring oil and commodities prices that followed.
Modi has pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, including at a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of a major regional summit in September.
He reiterated that call in an article outlining India's ambitions for the G20 forum, of which Russia is a member, released by the government and published by the UK's Telegraph newspaper.
"Today, we do not need to fight for our survival – our era need not be one of war. Indeed, it must not be one!" Modi wrote.
'Depoliticise' food supply
The invasion of Ukraine has periodically disrupted grain shipments and raised the spectre of a global food crisis.
Modi said India would "seek to depoliticise the global supply of food, fertilizers and medical products, so that geo-political tensions do not lead to humanitarian crises".
"As in our own families, those whose needs are the greatest must always be our first concern."
Modi's call came as India assumed the presidency of the powerful G20 grouping from the current chair, Indonesia. It will hold the post until December 2023.
Diplomatic tightrope
New Delhi has long walked a tightrope in its relations with the West and Moscow. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the difficulty of that balancing act.
It has repeatedly brushed off calls from Washington to condemn Moscow, despite pursuing greater security ties with the United States.
Putin visited New Delhi last year, hugging Modi and hailing India as a "great power" as the two men bolstered military and energy ties.
India is also a major consumer of Russian oil, ramping up discounted purchases in the wake of a Western embargo.
(with AFP)
Read also:
SSNIT must be managed without gov’t interference – Austin Gamey
Ejisu by-election could go either way between NPP and independent candidate — Gl...
We never asked ministers, DCEs to bring NPP apparatchiks for returning officer r...
No one denigrated the commission when you appointed NDC sympathizers during your...
Used cloth dealers protests over delayed Kumasi Central Market project
A/R: Kwadaso onion market traders refuse to relocate to new site
Dumsor: Corn mill operators at Kaneshie market face financial crisis
Jamestown fishermen seek support over destruction of canoes by Tuesday's heavy d...
Election 2024: EC to commence voter registration exercise on May 7
Public schools rebranding: We’re switching to blue and white, we’re painting all...
