US warns India, China of 'significant & long-term' consequences of alignment with Russia

United States warned India not to align with Russia as invasion of Ukraine continued on 42nd day. Director of  White House National Economic Council, Brian Deese, in a statement, said that consequences of a "more explicit strategic alignment” with Moscow would be “significant and long-term".

"In certain areas, US has been disappointed by decisions taken by both China and India over Russia’s military operation in Ukraine," he was quoted by a foreign media house as saying. statement comes a few weeks after Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid a visit to New Delhi. Right before that, he h visited Beijing. 

Even back n, Washington DC h reacted by saying that country was not looking to "change" India's relationship with Russia. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price h, however, me it clear that country expects international community, including India and China, to 'use leverage of ir relations' to speak in unison against unjustified assault on Ukraine.

India condemns Bucha killing in UNSC

As far as India is concerned, PM Modi-led country has so far kept a neutral stance in Russia-Ukraine conflict. At UNSC meeting on Russia-Ukraine war, India on Tuesday condemned in strongest of words Bucha killings. dressing member states, India's permanent representative TS Tirumurthi called for an in-depth interrogation of happenings in Bucha, pictures and visuals of which have been circulated throughout world and invoked condemnation from all corners. 

"We call for an immediate end to hostilities. As per us, diplomacy is only solution to end war, impact of which is being felt beyond region, take for example rising inflation," TS Tirumurthi said.  Previously, India abstained from voting on a Russia-backed resolution in United Nations Security Council. Russia’s resolution was perceived to be critical of Ukraine. resolution failed to pass as it lacked nine more votes. India also abstained from voting on resolutions aimed at isolating Russia at UNSC.