Ukrainian rescuers practice rescuing injured people following a shelling scenario in Odessa on August 31, 2022, amid Russia鈥檚 military invasion launched on Ukraine. AFP FILE PHOTO
UNITED NATIONS 鈥� China and India on Saturday called at the United Nations for a negotiated end to the Ukraine war, stopping short of robust support for traditional ally Russia.
After a week of pressure at the United Nations General Assembly, Russia鈥檚 foreign minister took the General Assembly rostrum to deliver a fiery rebuke to Western nations for what he termed a 鈥済rotesque鈥� campaign against Russians.
But no major nation has rallied behind Russia, including China, which just days before the February invasion of Ukraine had vowed an 鈥渦nbreakable鈥� bond with President Vladimir Putin.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on both Russia and Ukraine to 鈥渒eep the crisis from spilling over鈥� and from affecting developing countries.
鈥淐hina supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis. The pressing priority is to facilitate talks for peace,鈥� Wang said.
鈥淭he fundamental solution is to address the legitimate security concerns of all parties and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.鈥�
During his visit to the United Nations, Wang met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in their first talks since the war began.
Earlier this month Putin acknowledged Chinese 鈥渃oncerns鈥� about Ukraine during a meeting with his counterpart Xi Jinping.
Limiting material support
US officials have been heartened by what they see as China鈥檚 lack of concrete backing for the war and say that Beijing has declined requests to send military equipment, forcing Russia to rely on North Korea and Iran as its own supplies dwindle.
China鈥檚 reaction to Russia is being closely watched for clues on its approach to Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.
Wang held firm that China would take 鈥渇orceful steps鈥� against any interference, insisting that efforts to prevent 鈥渞eunification鈥� with Taiwan would be 鈥渃rushed by the wheels of history.鈥�
India, unlike China, has a warm relationship with the United States but it has historic ties with Russia, its traditional defense supplier.
鈥淎s the Ukraine conflict continues to rage, we are often asked whose side we are on,鈥� said India鈥檚 foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
鈥淥ur answer, each time, is straight and honest 鈥� India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e are on the side that calls for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out.鈥�
Russia on offensive
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a news conference declined to answer whether there has been any pressure from China. In his speech, he sought to cast blame squarely on the West.
鈥淭he official Russophobia in the West is unprecedented. Now the scope is grotesque,鈥� Lavrov told the General Assembly.
鈥淭hey are not shying away from declaring the intent to inflict not only military defeat on our country but also to destroy and fracture Russia.鈥�
The United States, he said, since the end of the Cold War has acted as if it is 鈥渁n envoy of God on Earth, with the sacred right to act with impunity wherever and whenever they want,鈥� Lavrov said.
He also blasted the European Union as an 鈥渁uthoritarian, harsh, dictatorial entity鈥� and said the bloc鈥檚 leadership forced one member state鈥檚 leader 鈥� Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades 鈥� to cancel a planned meeting with him.
Lavrov criticized the West for not engaging with Russia, saying, 鈥渨e have never stepped away from maintaining contact.鈥�
Western powers are looking at further sanctions after Putin called up reservists and made a veiled threat to use nuclear weapons, and have vowed not to recognize results of referendums on Russian annexation being held in occupied territories.
They have welcomed Lavrov鈥檚 isolation, noting how he only showed up at a Security Council session on Thursday to deliver remarks and not to listen to others.
Russia enjoyed one rare voice of support Saturday at the General Assembly. Mali鈥檚 interim Prime Minister Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, appointed by coup leaders, hailed the 鈥渆xemplary and fruitful cooperation鈥� with Moscow.
The junta has welcomed Russia鈥檚 Wagner Group security firm, despite Western allegations of rights abuses, as France pulled out troops who had been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency.
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