Russia, US vie to brief India on Ukraine

Sandeep Dikshit

New Delhi, January 20

Both Russia and the US, the main protagonists over the tensions in Ukraine, have been briefing India, which is in the enviable position of having working ties with all three sides.

US Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman spoke with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla late on Wednesday. Among the subjects they discussed was a “broad range of issues, including Russia’s concerning military build-up on Ukraine’s borders and regional issues”, said State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

From the other side, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during which they discussed Ukraine. With the crises escalating and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken having arrived in Kyiv in solidarity, the new Russian Ambassador called on Shringla on Wednesday during which the subject was again discussed.