Suresh Unnithan

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There is a popular saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed” which virtually means a friend indeed is one who proves a friend in need. Russia was always a friend in need for India and we have acknowledged it and reciprocated in proper terms when the situation warranted. Welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin at New Delhi on December 06, 2021 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, ““In the last few decades, the world witnessed many fundamental changes and different kinds of geopolitical equations emerged but the friendship of India and Russia remained constant.” Acknowledging Prime Minister Modi’s warmth Putin reciprocated “We perceive India as a great power, a friendly nation, and a time-tested friend. The relations between our nations are growing and I am looking into the future.”

After three months the violent conflict erupted between Russia and its immediate neighbour Ukraine. The United States of America, as usual, wasted no time in issuing provocative statements against Russia. The Western media was filled with stories depicting Russia an “inhuman invader” and Putin a “brutal tyrant” attacking a sovereign democratic country, Ukraine. We are well within our wisdom to understand the compulsions of Western Media. But how come the Indian Media (not all) playing to the tunes of the West and US to castigate Russia? Before “rebuking” Russia and its President Putin, those sitting in the Television studio should have done their homework on the cause of the armed confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine was part of the USSR till the latter broke up into 15 independent states.

As a senior official in the Russian Embassy in New Delhi said, “Indian media should provide only truthful and objective information on the Ukraine crisis and should not try to spread canards like their Western counterparts.  The Indo-Russian friendship is time tested. Those making malicious comments on Russia may please go through history to understand the intensity of the bond between the two nations.”

What he said is true. Russia in its previous avatar as USSR had bailed out India at least on six occasions in the United Nations Security Council. Between 1957 and 1971 Russia used veto power 6 times in the Security Council for India ignoring the heated protest from America every time.  Russia’s first veto was on 20 February 1957 to protect India from a resolution brought by Australia, Cuba, the UK and the US in favour of Pakistan in the Kashmir issue. Second veto was on 18 December 1961 opposing a joint resolution from France, Turkey, the UK and the US against India in the Security Council objecting to India’s use of military forces in Goa and Daman and Diu. The third was again on Kashmir issue on 22 June 1962. The fourth was on December 4, 1971 when a resolution led by the US demanded implementing a ceasefire on the India-Pakistan border. Argentina, Belgium, Burundi, China, Italy, Japan, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Syria and the United States voted in support of the resolution and Russia exercised its veto power to bail out India. Russia used its precious veto power for a fifth time on December 5, 1971 when Argentina, Belgium, Burundi, Italy, Japan, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Somalia proposed a ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border to facilitate the return of refugees. Again USA stood firmly against India, but Russia supported us vetoing the proposal. The Sixth instance was on 14 December 1971 when the US sponsored a resolution asking India and Pakistan for ceasefire and withdrawal of forces. Sensing that this was a move against India, Russia vetoed the proposal and protected our interest.

No Indian can ever overlook the timely intervention of Russia in 1971 to save us from the onslaught of the mighty US Navy. During the war when Indian forces were marching ahead in the then East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) “under the pretext of evacuating American citizens from the warzone, Nixon ordered the US Seventh Fleet’s Task Force 74, led by the nuclear powered aircraft carrier Enterprise, to proceed towards the Bay of Bengal.” But the devious US Naval fleet was frightened when powerful Soviet submarines surfaced without any warning. It was reported in the media at that time that America was shocked and Admiral Gordon told the 7th American Fleet Commander: “Sir, we are too late. The Soviets are here!”

Similarly, Soviet intelligence had reportedly alerted India of “a powerful British naval group led by the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle with commando carrier HMS Albion, several destroyers and other ships were approaching India’s territorial waters from the west, towards the Arabian Sea.”  Here Russia acted as our “friend in need.”

But Ukraine adopted a consistent anti-India position at UN. Ukraine had opposed India’s nuclear tests in 1998 and had condemned India’s actions at the Security Council. Ukraine also voted for UNSC sanctions against India. It needs to be noted Ukraine advocated for UN intervention on Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370.  Ukraine has vehemently opposed and voted to block India’s permanent membership in UN Security Council.  Above all Ukraine sells military equipment to Pakistan to use against India.  According to reports Ukraine has sold T-80 Tanks worth 650 M to Pakistan. There are allegations that Ukraine has been extending support to the dreaded terror group al-Qaeda.

Russia says it “has not waged war against Ukraine and its people, but has undertaken a special military operation with the purpose of ending Nazism as well as demilitarization in Ukraine.”  But the real reason, according to defence experts, is the US initiative to bring Ukraine into the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) fold has irked Russia. It’s a fact a US military base in Ukraine will be a perpetual threat to Russia for It’s just a matter of time before a missile launched from Ukraine drops at Moscow. At the time of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia had declared that it would never allow Ukraine to join the NATO alliance. Historically, Ukraine has been a major entry point to Russia. “This is the route taken by Charles 12 of Sweden, Napoleon and the Nazis of Germany” and Russia does to want to open it for “NATO powers are looking for an opportunity to invade Ukraine and Russia.”

Justifying his country’s stand in the Ukrainian conflict the Russian official asked, “When an enemy force trying to control our neighbour with an intention of destabilizing us we are forced to act.”