Ukraine conflict escalates; US seeks India’s support if war breaks out

KYIV: The White House has rejected Moscow’s announcement of the withdrawal of troops, amid the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia has deployed 7,000 new troops along the Ukraine border. Russia could invade Ukraine at any moment, said the White House officials. The United States (US) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have confirmed that there has been no indication of the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Russia’s deployment of troops on the Ukraine border has been described as Europe’s biggest security breach since the Cold war. "We don't see any retreat of Russian forces from Ukraine's borders yet," said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. We are not afraid of anyone, of any enemies, he added.

The US has hoped that India, which is committed to a rules-based international order, will stand by its side in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine conflict was discussed at the recent meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a forum comprising of US, India, Japan and Australia. There was a strong consensus in that meeting that there needs to be a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis.

The European Union (EU) has informed India about its future course of action in the event of a Russian invasion. In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, Delhi has also been included in the 27-nation bloc, said the European Union. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro in Moscow. However, the Ukraine crisis was not discussed in the meeting.